Shropshire's Clara raises £3,000 for Hope House with vintage car run

Dozens of vehicles turned out for the fun-filled event which saw drivers follow a 32-mile route, starting and finishing at Netley Hall, near Shrewsbury.

Clara Powis, now 15, first began fundraising for the hospice from age eight in memory of her best friend Maya.

Maya was born with a life-threatening condition and received care at Hope House until she died in 2015.

Clara’s mum, Lisa-Jayne, said: “It was a really good event and we had just over 50 vehicles taking part, with a lot more people coming along to support as well.

“We have a Green Goddess fire engine and a Morris 1,000 which we use to take part in charity events.

“Clara loves travelling in them so she wanted to do an event herself to raise money for Hope House.

“We had an amazing variety of vehicles turn up, including lorries, Series One Landrovers, a Bentley, army Jeeps and some Jaguars.”

Clara over the years has organised comedy nights, charity balls and a head shave to support seriously ill local children and their families.

Lisa-Jayne said taking part in fundraising activities had helped Clara to come to terms with Maya’s death.

“When Maya passed away they were both only seven years old and Clara was absolutely devastated,” she said.

“It was the following year that she was watching Children in Need and decided she wanted to raise money for Hope House to remember Maya.

“Her first event was a masked ball and she just kept going after that. We always mention Maya and it’s really helped Clara by doing something positive.”

Clara’s next event is a charity ball which is being held at Netley Hall in March 2024.