Special charity calendar sells out

A unique charity calendar put together by a group which offers vital support to new mums who have lost their own mothers has sold out within weeks of its launch and raised more than £2,600 for a specialist unit providing end of life care.

The ‘New Mums Without Mums’ group, which was set up by Norfolk teacher Louise Mundford, launched the calendar in November to raise funds to benefit patients at the Priscilla Bacon Centre, a specialist palliative care unit which is run by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCH&C).

All 300 copies were snapped up within weeks, with more than £2,600 raised. The money will be donated to the Priscilla Bacon Lodge Support Group, which supports patients and staff at the specialist unit, part of Colman Hospital on Norwich’s Unthank Road.

Louise, 30, who lives in Long Stratton with her husband Ian, set up the group to offer support and friendship to others after losing her own mum Lynn to cancer when she was pregnant with daughter Lydia, who turns two at the end of January.

She said she was “absolutely delighted” with the support the calendar had received, and has also welcomed several new members to the group as a result of the publicity around the project.

“I was hoping we would make £100, so was absolutely delighted to raise so much more from the project. It really exceeded my expectations,” said Louise, who is a part-time Year One teacher at Taverham Hall School, in Taverham, Norwich. “We are really pleased to have been able to make a difference to the people who are being cared for at the Priscilla Bacon Centre.

“The calendar has also helped raise awareness of the group and prompted quite a big influx of new members, which has been just as valuable. We’ve also had some new members join after seeing the calendar at Pricilla Bacon, which is really nice.”

Local photographer, Alison Armstrong, donated her time to take the photographs for the calendar, which also received £450 in sponsorship from local companies: Windsor Bishop, ID Systems and Fosters Solicitors. Barclays Bank also donated £750 to the project.

“We are really grateful for all of the support we have received and would like to thank everyone who helped put together the calendar,” added Louise. “It was hard work but really worth it.”

Louise Rawlings, Lead Nurse at Priscilla Bacon Centre, said: “We are very grateful to the group for choosing to raise money for the Priscilla Bacon Centre, and would like to thank everyone who helped to make this fantastic calendar or supported the project by buying a copy.”

Anyone who would like to join the group, which now has 72 members, can do so by searching for ‘New Mums Without Mums’ on Facebook or can drop in to the monthly meeting, which will be held on the last Friday of every month at Attleborough Children’s Centre in Church Street from 12.30pm.

The group is now planning a charity ball to take place on October 4 in aid of Nelson’s Journey. For more information and to purchase tickets, please email [email protected]

www.norfolkcommunityhealthandcare.nhs.uk

 

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