A vibrant village fundraiser enjoyed its most successful year to date – raising a record-breaking £87,000 for local causes and selected charities, including East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
The 58th Thriplow Daffodil Weekend and Country Fair attracted thousands of visitors over two days in March, including 60 coaches from across the UK.
This year’s event raised £185,000 – the highest amount in history – which, after costs, left an impressive surplus of £87,000.
It means more than £1 million has now been raised since 1969, and EACH was one of this year’s nominated charities. It received £20,000 from ticket sales, while volunteers at the charity’s stall organised games, competitions and fundraising activities and collected an extra £750.
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone involved in making this year’s Thriplow Daffodil Weekend such a phenomenal success,” said Victoria Goldsmith, EACH’s Senior Community Fundraiser for Cambridgeshire and West Essex.
“To be awarded £20,000, as well as raising a further £750 through our stall, is fantastic and will make such a meaningful difference to the children, young people and families we support across East Anglia.
“We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the organisers, volunteers, residents and every single person who visited the village.
“The hard work, dedication and community spirit that goes into this event is truly remarkable, and it’s inspiring to see what can be achieved when people come together for such worthwhile causes.”
Preparations for the display begin months in advance, with daffodil bulbs planted each September.
Despite having a population of just 350, the village relies on hundreds of volunteers to help deliver the event each year.
As a thank you for residents’ continued support and hard work, organisers are hosting an annual community barbecue in July.
Thriplow Daffodil Weekend started in 1969 when the village church needed major roof repairs. Residents decided to raise funds by opening their gardens and making cups of tea for their visitors.
Over the following decades, the event has grown into one of the region’s most successful community fundraisers, supporting charities and good causes within 30 miles of Thriplow.
EACH was fortunate enough to be one of the beneficiaries in both 2017 and 2020, raising a combined £13,500.
Victoria (right) is pictured with fellow EACH Community Fundraiser Cherryle Taplin-Olson, Paul Earnshaw, Chairman of the Daffodil Weekend Committee, and Uday Phadke, Chair of the Thriplow Daffodil Weekend Trust.
