It’s the end of an era for kind-hearted charity champion Joy Ayre.
The 87-year-old has raised thousands of pounds for many great causes over the last three decades, including East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
She has worked her magic by tirelessly selling second-hand goods on a stall at her local community market, in Laxfield.
Joy has no idea how much she has raised over the years but, incredibly, her EACH total alone stands at more £25,000.
“Personally, I haven’t got a clue what I’ve raised and don’t want to know, to be completely honest,” said the mum of three, who also has three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
“It’s not important to me. The most important thing is knowing it’s gone to the right place.
“I wish with all my heart there weren’t children suffering in the world but there’s nothing I can do to stop that.
“All I can do is as much as I can to raise funds for fantastic charities like EACH.
“They had hardly any shops when I started doing this but now there are nearly 50. That shows how long I’ve been supporting them.”
Joy has also raised funds for other great causes, including village funds and charities including Cancer Research UK, McMillan Cancer Support and East Anglian Air Ambulance.
She has done it by selling everything from books and bric-a-brac to teapots and ceramics – once from a stall outside the guild hall but now at the village’s community market.
It was the end of an era when Joy ‘retired’ by running her last stall at the village Christmas market on Friday, 1st December. On that night alone, she raised £180.
“I’m very sad to be giving up, but feel the time is right,” said the former Barnardo’s nurse.
“I’m not getting any younger but it’s given me a lot of pleasure down the years.
“When I had a good day and sold lots of things, it was a real buzz.
“Those days were very exciting, knowing I’d raised a decent amount of money.
“People have always been very kind, giving me things to sell, and I had lots of loyal customers, who kept coming back and supporting me.”
Joy, married to Gordon, has been helped by her family over the years and also gets plenty of support from one of her neighbours, Fiona Shuttle.
“Supporters like Joy are the lifeblood of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices,” said EACH Community Fundraising Manager Tina Burdett.
“She’s raised so much over the course of many years and it’s hard to put into words how much we appreciate her hard work, not to mention those who have helped her.”
