KENDAL Rugby Club and its supporters have given a big fund-raising boost to the Give Them A Break campaign.

The club has been supporting the appeal regularly by holding raffles during the 1st XV home matches at Mintbridge. Over this week’s ‘derby’ weekend, in which Kendal played Kirkby Lonsdale, the club raffled two hampers worth £60 each, donated by Hawkshead Relish, along with a magnum bottle.

Combined with fund-raising buckets, the club raised £750 and this was matched pound for pound by Barclays Bank to give the campaign a £1,500 boost.

The Give Them a Break appeal aims to raise £20,000 to give people who voluntarily care for a loved-one, relative or friend who is ill or disabled some much-needed respite.

The money will go towards things like an adventure break, a one-night dinner, bed and breakfast stay at a Lake District hotel or a day’s activity such as a spa break or a day out walking with a fell guide.

Since the campaign launched in September generous donations have been flooding in, as well as gifts in kind. The latter includes hoteliers donating a hotel room for free and breaks at a spa resort. All will go towards unpaid carers in the South Lakes area.

Susan Psyden’s line dancing group held a raffle at its Christmas party, where all proceeds went towards the campaign. The dancers raised more than £100, adding to their total from previous fundraisers of £500.

Sue said her dancers had made her proud and that the raffle was well supported, with prizes donated by Ruby Tuesday and Kacuzi hair salons, The Bumblebee Gallery in Kendal and Dobsons Greengrocers.

The Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal has also given nearly £100 worth of cinema tickets to the appeal and Simon Rogan’s Restaurant Rogan and Co in Cartmel has donated a meal for two valued at nearly £60.

The Rotary Club of Kendal South Westmorland has donated £250 to the cause.

A South Lakeland resident has offered her holiday cottage to carers a couple times a year for free. Based in Windermere, Fiona Jones donated the stays at her recently refurbished, one bedroom, ground floor flat. It is described as ‘well equipped and charming’ with an ‘inspiring view’ of the Coniston fells and ‘tucked away in a secluded sunny spot.

The campaign is being run in conjunction with South Lakeland Carers, a charity which provides practical and emotional support and advice to around 1,250 unpaid carers across the area. As well as aiming to raise £20,000, the appeal aims to encourage people to volunteer with the charity as counsellors or a sitter to allow some carers a three-hour break each month.

To donate, complete the coupon below and return it to Mike Addison, Give Them a Break, The Westmorland Gazette, 1 Wainwright’s Yard, Kendal, LA9 4DP. Make cheques payable to ‘Give Them a Break’. You can also visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/Givethemabreak.