VOLUNTEERS are ensuring fund-raising for children’s charity Action Medical Research continues through the coronavirus crisis.
The Ryton-on-Dunsmore committee – which was formed in 1981 and currently has 11 members – is determined to soldier on with fund-raising despite the pandemic.
“Obviously we have to maintain our social distancing” says committee chair Eileen Lawson. “But after we cancelled our annual coffee morning and plant sale on May 23 we all had a think about what we could do instead.”
Their May fund-raiser is usually held at Ryton Church Hall and raises on average around £1,000.
For the past few weeks, committee member Miriam Mann has been baking cakes and leaving them in her front porch for neighbours to collect and make donations. Her husband John has been doing the same with plants grown in their garden.
And Sylvia Dixon and her husband John have also been growing plants in their garden and selling them to nearby friends and family.
Eileen says the response from local residents has been heart-warming.
“It’s wonderful to see so many people rally around and help support us. There’s been a real sense of community spirit.
“We hope that we can get near our £1,000 fund-raising goal.”
AMR community Fundraiser for the region Ruth Dean said the committee was a vital asset to the charity.
“We are very lucky to have so many passionate committees across the UK.
“The ladies and their other halves in Ryton–on-Dunsmore are so active and their commitment really does make a big difference. Especially in times like these.
“I’d like to thank all the committee members for their continued hard work and to the local community for supporting them through cake and plant purchases! Thank you.”
Action Medical Research is a UK-wide children’s charity which funds desperately needed research to tackle the diseases that devastate the lives of so many of our children. It has been funding medical breakthroughs since it began in 1952 including helping to introduce the first polio vaccines in the UK, developing the use of ultrasound in pregnancy and testing the rubella vaccine.
Action is currently funding research into areas including premature birth, epilepsy, scarlet fever, cerebral palsy, brain cancer and some rare and distressing conditions.
Visit action.org.uk for further details on Action Medical Research.
