New Holehird fundraisers start year off on high

9:07am Friday 13th January 2006

The New Year has begun with the best possible news for the dedicated group of fund raisers who hope to keep open a Windermere home for disabled people.

The team members behind the New Holehird group have just announced they have passed the £750,000 mark since launching their appeal.

The group began life in January 2004, after the national charity, Leonard Cheshire, which has operated Holehird for more than 40 years, announced it was to pull out of running the home.

Since then, the appeal, which has an ultimate aim of raising £2.8 million, has been boosted by an anonymous half-a-million pounds donation, and a more recent "very generous" legacy.

The first payment from the legacy helped to push the appeal over the three-quarters-of-a-million pounds marker.

The legacy, left by Hazel Kemp of Windermere, is expected to total approximately £100,000.

Miss Kemp was a member of the Lakeland Horticultural Society, which tends the gardens around the Holehird building, and she is believed to have had a strong feeling for the place.

Chairman of the trustees Robert Smith explained: "It was out of the blue, we did not expect it, but it was very nice."

The remainder of the New Holehird money has been raised by members of the public and groups across South Lakeland and further afield.

Mr Smith said: "The support from local organisations and local individuals has been absolutely outstanding and it's still ongoing."

Mr Smith said that even once the group, whose members were still "very confident", had achieved its initial aim of keeping open the house, fund raising would still be required for all the extras that the residents would need.

A statement released by the charity said: "This is a magnificent achievement in under two years and we are grateful to everyone who has supported our cause with such enthusiasm and commitment.

"Reaching this point is an important milestone towards the funds needed to help bridge the transition to new management and to provide modernised, refurbished accommodation and facilities for residents which will meet proper care standards.

"Saving a home for vulnerable and disabled people from closure is such a worthwhile cause."

The group has previously said that it is seeking a partner to work with in the future.