Book-loving villagers set the scene for a creative fundraiser in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). Holbrook’s story-themed trail competition raised £628. Residents used their imagination to create scenes or depict a story outside their home, celebrating a book they and their family love.
Visitors then used a map to visit and see all the displays and there were prizes for the best exhibits. A QR code was available which meant visitors could print the list of addresses or follow the trail using their mobile phone.
Louise Harward won the adult’s category with a colourful Mr Men scene and the children’s winner was an interactive Kay’s Anatomy, designed by Bella and Ozzie Coleman. Book tokens were given as prizes.
Entrants paid £5 to take part and had collection boxes by the front of their house. Proceeds were split between two chosen causes – EACH and All Saints Church, in Holbrook.
The trail was arranged by the Holbrook Society and followed hot on the heels of successful scarecrow and safari trails in 2020 and 2021 respectively. Joy Squirrell, one of the organisers, said: “Everything went well and it was a very busy weekend.
“We were blessed with wonderful weather, brilliant displays and boxes distributed around the village. These trails are such fun. Everyone was smiling and had a wonderful time.
“We wanted to support a local charity and, as this event is aimed at children, we wanted to do it for a children’s charity. That’s why we decided to raise money for EACH.
“It’s a wonderful cause that does so much work in our area to support families and care for children and young people with life-threatening conditions.” All Saints Church was open throughout the weekend offering refreshments, as was The Swan pub.
Georgina Morrison, EACH community fundraising assistant for Suffolk, said: “The photos from the event were absolutely amazing and I loved how so many of the displays incorporated our collection buckets and pots.
“It was a brilliant idea for a fundraiser, and definitely something a bit different. I can imagine it took a lot of organisation to pull all this together, so massive congratulations to everyone for their hard work.”
The event took place on 2nd and 3rd July.
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