A popular fete has raised an amazing £22,000 for a local charity.
Despite it being almost October, the Weldmar Hospicecare Summer Fete made its return at the weekend.
It took place in the meadow and gardens of the charity's Inpatient Unit in Dorchester where hundreds of local people turned out to enjoy the sunshine and activities.
An impressive £22,000 was raised from this year's fete. The sum will go towards the specialist end-of-life care that Weldmar provides in Dorset to people living with a life-limiting illness and support for their loved ones.
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This is the first time the event has been run since the start of the pandemic and was originally due to be held on Saturday, September 10 but was rescheduled following the Queen's death.
Event organiser Clare Ash said: “Everyone has had such a fabulous day, and I’d like to thank everyone for coming along, enjoying the day with us, and helping us to raise such a brilliant total. Thank you to the entertainers who stepped in at the last minute due to the change of dates.
"We also couldn’t have done it without an amazing team of volunteers who helped set up/clear away and run the stalls and activities. Staff from across the charity’s different departments helped in all kinds of ways, from serving candyfloss to applying fun tattoos for children, and even counting the money as it came in.
"Every penny raised will help make a difference to those people in Dorset who need Weldmar’s care.”
The Nurses’ Stall proved to be popular with its games and sales of produce, and the Allied Health Professionals team sold an impressive array of plants. There were lots of other stalls selling everything from clothes to books to homemade cakes, as well as tombolas and raffles.
Lots in the Silent Auction included the opportunity to meet comedian Jason Manford, a James Bond-themed bottle of Bollinger champagne, and signed merchandise from David Walliams and Fatboy Slim, among many other popular items.
Performances on the day included The Decadettes, Andy Collett, the Weymouth Ukuleleans, the Studio Dance School, and Lou Sam's Zumba. There were also activities provided by the Forest School, and South West IT ran a popular virtual reality gaming experience.
Organisers added they would like to thank HSBC UK, which sponsored the fete this year, and First Bus for supplying a free shuttle service between the hospice and the town centre.
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