Residents' Christmas lights aim to raise £2,500 for Springhill Hospice

Date published: 24 November 2021

Residents of Wrenbury Drive in Burnedge, Rochdale, are aiming to raise £2,500 for Springhill Hospice with their spectacular lights switch-on in December.

The residents have had their own festive light display from the first Saturday of every December for many years, with people coming from miles to see them.

Last year’s festive lights raised over £1,500 – and the residents have decided to go bigger and better for 2021, teaming up with the Spring Inn on Broad Lane which is hosting a Christmas market the same weekend. Wrenbury Drive’s residents even hope to be able to secure a brass band to play at the event.

Maria Brierley, one resident of the street, said: “We have been doing this for at least 15 years, and sometimes we end up with hen parties stopping by in their limousines to take pictures.

“Many passers-by kept asking if they could make a donation to charity as a thank you but we needed to collect any donations in a safe way, so we set up the Just Giving page last year in the middle of lockdown. We had posters with a scannable QR code placed around the drive to make it easier for people to donate, and we are doing the posters again this year.”

Another resident, Sue Hamilton, added: “Last year, even with Covid, we collected over £1,500. This year, we’re hoping for more, all going to Springhill Hospice.”

Maria continued: “We are very excited this year as it is going to be even better. We’re pulling out all the stops and working with the new management at the Spring Inn on Broad Lane. They are very engaged in raising funds for the hospice, so they are running a Christmas market the same weekend.”

They added: “Everyone is welcome to come and join in with the fun that evening and to enjoy the lights throughout the festive season so why not spread some Christmas cheer and fundraise for such a very valued and worthy charity at the same time.

“Any donations are very much appreciated!”

The lights will be switched-on at 4.30pm on Saturday 4 December.

Donations can be made via JustGiving, or by scanning a QR code on a poster at Wrenbury Drive.

• www.justgiving.com/fundraising/MariaBrierley