Bingo!
A prolific fundraiser has spoken of her pride and joy after making another bumper donation to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
Janet Tweed, 81, has been supporting EACH for more than 30 years, since raising £700 at her silver wedding party in January 1991.
Rather than asking guests for presents, she requested donations which she passed on to EACH – then in its infancy after opening at Milton in 1989.
Mrs Tweed and her husband, Colin, repeated the trick for their golden wedding anniversary, raising £1,000, and she has also organised countless bingo nights at her local village hall in Manea, near March. Attendance varies from 60 to 100 people.
The most recent took place last month and raised a record-breaking £1,080. Since 2013 alone, she has raised nearly £8,000.
“We’ve held at least one bingo night a year since the early 90s, apart from missing a couple because of Covid,” said Mrs Tweed, who is a regular customer at EACH’s shop in Ely.
“However, that’s the most we’ve made and I was delighted. It was a great night and the local community really got behind us.
“I’ve always been a great admirer of EACH. I feel passionate about the work it does and can’t imagine how families would cope without places like Milton.
“Raising funds has always been important to me and I’m grateful for the support I’ve had. I get lots of help and it wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
“I’ve got no idea how much I’ve raised over the years and couldn’t even hazard a guess.
“However, I don’t have any plans to stop and will continue organising these nights as long as I possibly can.”
Mrs Tweed has two sons and four grandchildren.