Zena 10 fund-raising appeal in memory of Bury St Edmunds mum Zena Butcher crosses £65,000 mark
A fund-raising challenge, which started in 2015 with the aim of raising £10,000 in memory of Bury St Edmunds mum Zena Butcher, has just crossed the £65,000 mark.
Zena 10 launched in June 2015 to mark the 10th anniversary of Zena’s death from a malignant brain tumour at the age of 37.
Her family, including daughter Connie Gibbs, partner Darren Gibbs and sisters Tracey Butcher and Mandy Smart, initially aimed to raise £10,000 in four months in Zena’s memory.
They wanted to help St Nicholas Hospice Care after the charity supported Zena – who worked at the Bury Free Press – through her six-year illness and helped Connie and Darren through its Nicky’s Way children’s bereavement programme following Zena’s death in 2005.
Zena 10 was such a success it has carried on since, with events, challenges and balls.
Connie, 22, said: “To see how far we have come is crazy. Now, coming up to six years since we started, we never imagined then we would raise £65,000. We thought if we could get to £10,000 then that would be amazing. We did that in the first couple of months and since then it has just continued and continued.
“I have 100 per cent found it a comfort and something which has kept memories of mum alive. I was so young when mum died and you forget the memories and feel guilty for that.
“Through Z10 people have shared their stories of mum with me. The whole past five years has really helped with the grieving process, being able to talk to people who knew my mum.
“I’m optimistic that one day we will reach £100,000.”
During 2020, while Covid-19 ruled out the annual Zena 10 charity ball, the team still wanted to raise funds.
The Zena 10 Lockdown challenge kicked off in May, with friends and family undertaking individual challenges to raise more than £2,000.
Then, in December the family launched the Zena 10 Christmas appeal, with friends, family and work colleagues making donations, including friends selling Christmas trees from their field and Jetts Netball Club organising a raffle.
The two initiatives pushed the Zena 10 total just past £65,000.
Tracey said: “It’s been a difficult year for so many of us so we really wanted to make a difference and do something positive. We are lucky to have so many generous friends and family members who are always there to support our Z10 initiatives – and particularly through lockdown.
“Reaching £65,000 was a wonderful feeling that something good came out of 2020 – and we all did it together. We can’t thank everyone enough.”
Tracey and Connie both hope to be able to hold the Zena 10 annual ball again this year.
Tracey added: “We’re very grateful to everyone who has supported us and we are very glad it keeps Zena’s memory alive. She was such a big character.
“We have had so many people take part in so many different events to raise money for the hospice.”
To donate, go to https://stnicholashospicecare.echoleft.com/zena-butcher
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