Shrewsbury Folk Festival hopes to smash £50,000 for charity partner
Shrewsbury Folk Festival has set a target to smash the £50,000 barrier for its charity partner Hope House after revealing a leap in its fundraising at this year’s event.
The event, which has supported the children’s hospice since 2008, helped to raise more than £6,160 at this year’s four-day festival at the West Mid Showground. That’s an increase of more than £1,000 on the total raised last year.
Festival organisers make a donation to the Morda charity for each adult weekend ticket that is sold. It also hosts an on-site collection and asks for donations towards scooter charging and wi-fi use as well as charging mobile phones in return for a fee for Hope House.
The charity’s volunteers run a stall that raked in more than £1,940 through raffles, and cake, clothes and books sales.
In total, the festival has raised more than £43,000 for the hospice, which uses the money to fund music therapy sessions for children with life limiting illnesses.
Festival director Sandra Surtees said: “Every year we are humbled and delighted by the generosity of our festivalgoers and the staggering sum they raise for Hope House and this year is no exception.
“Everywhere you go during the festival, whether it’s on site or in the town centre, Shrewsbury comes alive to the sound of music and I think that inspires people to give so generously.
“We are certainly hoping to reach the £50,000 mark next year and celebrate another great year of fundraising for Hope House.”
Hope House Fundraising Manager Vanessa Thomas said: “This is literally music to the ears of everyone who benefits from our music therapy service. Music benefits children in many forms and can sometimes be an important way for children to make themselves heard.
“We want to thank everyone who made a donation. The money makes a real difference and helps to enrich the lives of the children.”
