FUND-RAISERS have been busy behind the scenes organising a vast range of events to try to keep open a much-loved home for disabled people.

Members of New Holehird say they have received many offers of help towards their bid to raise £2.8 million to keep open the well-known Windermere house.

As previously reported, the national charity, Leonard Cheshire, which has run Holehird for more than four decades, has announced it is to pull out of Windermere and instead build a new home in the Lancaster and Morecambe Bay area.

The charity has said that Holehird is not suitable for its work with disabled people.

However, after an outcry from residents, volunteers and others, New Holehird was formed with the aim of raising enough money to allow the home to remain open after Leonard Cheshire has left.

The appeal got off to a flying start with a £500,000 anonymous donation in February, and funds at the beginning of May were £536,000.

Currently plans are being put together for bids to the National Lottery and other grant-giving bodies. Meanwhile, community groups have been pulling out all the stops. An evening at the Edgecombe Court sheltered housing complex at Kendal started with a hot pot supper made by resident David William for which the normal charge was doubled.

The entertainment was provided by Alex McLean, pianist Margaret Dugdale, Hallgarth citizens the Blank Cartridges, and Curly Brook with grandsons.

As well as a raffle and rolling £1 coins at a bottle, other donations brought the total raised to £1,055. Resident Edith Rigg presented the cheque to Robert Smith of New Holehird.

A quiz testing people's knowledge of Cumbria devised by Dr Audrey Ahmed from Windermere raised more than £450. Dr Ahmed is now compiling a book of "howlers" to be sold in aid of New Holehird.

In March, the people of Troutbeck arranged an evening talk given by Peter Howarth at the village hall, followed by refreshments and sales of homemade goods that raised £525. Troutbeck Valley people are also organising a dance on May 29, and there is a garden which is to be opened in the village.

A recorder group raised £197 when it played at Booths in Windermere, while there is a summer buffet planned at Windermere Yacht Club on June 9 and a formal dinner at the same venue on July 14.

Sponsorship forms are being sent out with the entry forms for the Great Langdale marathon, and an event to encourage businesses to help New Holehird is planned for August or September.