Feltwell fund-raisers giving back to helpful causes

A dedicated fund-raising group in Feltwell is aiming to raise thousands of pounds this year for charities which have supported residents.

The Feltwell Fundraisers, formerly the Friends of St Mary’s Church, formed last year to raise money for local causes.

After raising more than £2,000 last year, the group are determined to continue their good work this year with four events already lined up.

Vanessa Cock, the committee’s chairman, said: “We’ve all worked together previously, fund-raising for the village church.

“We decided to move on and form a group to fund-raise for the wider village, for other things that benefit people in Feltwell.

“There are other causes that need a bit of support, and people want to give a bit back to things that have helped them.”

After its inception last July, the Feltwell Fundraisers raised £1,100 for the Teenage Cancer Trust as well as further donations for the church.

“This year we are fund-raising for the church’s North Aisle Project and for Papworth Hospital.

“Many people have had their lives saved or extended at Papworth. A lot of people in the village have been treated there and it is virtually on our doorstep.”

The group’s first event is a quiz night, taking place at Feltwell Primary School next Saturday, April 18, from 7pm.

Also on the agenda this year are a village yard sale, a craft fair, and a trip to the Stanford Training Area (STANTA).

Ms Cock said the group’s events, which run from April to October, follow a similar pattern every year, with the six-strong committee receiving support from a number of helpers.

“We’re hoping to raise around £2,000 for each charity this year, it’s not massive but it’s for good causes and gives people in the village a bit of entertainment,” she said.

Before the Feltwell Fundraisers’ formation last year, the Friends of St Mary’s Church had been running since 2007 to raise money for projects including reroofing the building.

Ms Cock said: “Now there is another larger project, the North Aisle Project, to turn a redundant section of the church into a space for meetings and events.

“However, that is expensive on-going. We decided to move forward because it is going to run for years.”