A YOUNGSTER from Bidford has been ‘thrilled and overwhelmed’ by the generosity she has received whilst organising a fundraising event in honour of her late father.
Ten-year-old Emily Butler is holding a coffee morning for the Shakespeare Hospice in Alcester tomorrow Saturday, January 25 – on what would have been his 45th birthday.
Tragically, Mark Butler, known as ‘Bud’ to friends and family took his own life in December 2021. Since his death, Emily, who lives with her mum Amy has received invaluable support from the hospice’s child bereavement services.
Amy told the Standard that the original idea had been to mark Bud’s birthday with coffee and cake at home, invite a few friends and family and see if they could raise a bit of money for the hospice.
She suggested they should run a raffle and together the pair sent out requests to the local community for prizes. The response has been incredible with a long list of more than 75 items, experiences and services donated from businesses in the area.
Amy said: “I put out a message on Alcester News [Facebook group] and that’s when it really took off. At one point it felt like I was getting a new prize every five minutes. I can’t tell you how excited Emily was at this point, she thought it was amazing.”
When people started to enquire how they could come to the coffee morning and buy tickets, Amy said the pair took up a kind offer from Alcester Baptist Church to turn it into a public event and hold it there.
Everything from luxury facials, jewellery, chocolates and Champagne to a car service, meal vouchers, and dog grooming are set to be claimed by those with the winners’ tickets which cost £5 for a strip of five. For footie enthusiasts, there is a Stratford FC season ticket and signed shirt.
Amy is full of praise for the Shakespeare Hospice based in Stratford. “The most awful thing in the world happened to us but they picked us up when it was really hard,” she said.
“I never realised that they did this kind of work and the service is available to all children who are bereaved.
“The confidence that they have brought out in Emily is absolutely amazing.”
The raffle draw will take place at the coffee morning which runs from 11am to 2pm at Alcester Baptist Church in Church Street. The Alcester Victoria Silver Band will be providing musical entertainment.
