Sedgeford Flower Festival at St Mary’s Church. Janet Frost (left) and Liz Plumb work on the Van Gogh Sunflower display

A MASSIVE £7,725 has been raised for the Lynn News Young Carers’ Appeal – and the Bank Holiday weekend looks set to add even more to the kitty. 

Jackie Haverson, leader of the West Norfolk Young Carers’ Group, said: “We are truly grateful to everyone and appreciate it, as do the children. I hoped £10,000 would be raised by Christmas.”

The appeal was launched on June 10 and aims to raise £100,000 for people aged between five and 18, who care for a family member with learning and physical disabilities or mental health and substance abuse problems.

This money will go towards transport to help young carers get to and from support groups across West Norfolk, as well as one-to-one support in schools.

Four events will be taking place this Bank Holiday weekend for the appeal.

Part of the proceeds from the popular Wolferton Scarecrow Festival will go towards the worthwhile cause.

The family event starts tomorrow (Saturday) in the village near Sandringham.

Entrance and parking is free and it will continue until Bank Holiday Monday. Opening times are 10am until 5pm each day.

There will also be a flower display and collection bucket at the annual St Mary’s Church Festival in Sedgeford, which starts today (Friday) and finishes on Bank Holiday Monday.

The free event, which is in its sixth year, will be open from 10am until 5pm each day.

Displays will range from King Henry VIII to a stuffed lion and the theme this year is Hand-in-Hand and Relationships.

There will also be food and drink and craft stalls at the event and all proceeds from the festival will go towards the St Mary’s Church Roof Appeal.

A car rally will be leaving Downham’s Tesco supermarket at 8.30am for Hemsby, on the Norfolk coast. It has been organised by Louisa Hawkins, 34, from Downham, and any cars can take part.

For more information about the rally contact Mrs Hawkins by ringing 01366 385485 or 07727 852683. On the same day members of the Reffley Royals Football Club will be completing a five-kilometre sponsored walk in fancy dress from the Swan Inn, Nursery Lane, South Wootton.

It is due to start at noon and an auction will be held at the end of the walk in the Swan Inn.

Prizes include two bikes donated by Tesco.

For more information about the walk contact club manager Rob Back by ringing 07872 485504 or 01353 645762, emailing reffleyroyalsfc@hotmail.co.uk or visiting www.reffleyroyals.co.uk

A stall selling school uniforms and other items in Lynn’s Tuesday Market Place, on Tuesday, raised just over £92 for the appeal.

Walkers News in Norfolk Street, Lynn, has so far raised £240 and proprietor, Graham Walker, aims to carry on collecting for young carers.

http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/campaigns_2_5348/it_s_a_big_weekend_for_our_carers_appeal_1_3004040