WE Hear You’s ‘Mad March’ campaign has been another roaring success and the month-long fundraising bonanza has raised just shy of £25,000 for the charity.
The annual drive, which sees local people get stuck in with raising money for the counselling service – formerly known as Positive Action on Cancer – gives an important boost to the charity’s funds, says director Melissa Hillier.
“Mad March this year has been amazing,” Melissa said. “It has been a frantic month for us, but there have been so many exciting things going on round the town and lots of supporters raising hundreds and even thousands of pounds for us.”
A team of 11 runners took part in Bath Half Marathon, people completed a sponsored skydive, and £5,000 was raised in an online auction of donated prizes. There were also tea parties, cake sales, and school mufti-days put on throughout the month.
Melissa continued, “We’re so pleased to have raised so much money, and it is such a fun month’s work for us, too. We get to engage with so many more people, and there is such a community feel.
“Especially with events like the tea parties; they’re really inclusive because anyone can host one and, as well as raising money for a good cause, it’s a great opportunity for people to meet their neighbours and spend time with friends. And of course it’s an excuse to eat cake!”
Mad March was the charity’s first big event under its new brand,We Hear You Cancer Counselling, after 21 years as Positive Action on Cancer ended in February.
The charity was renamed in an attempt to better reflect the counselling service it offers. Each counselling session, which is free to the client, costs the charity £44 – the money raised in the past month will pay for over 560 sessions for local people affected by cancer.
“Fundraising is so important to us because, as a small charity, we don’t have a lot of guaranteed income,” said Melissa. “A drive like this helps to give We Hear You stability and focus on moving forward with our service.
“We’re really happy with how things have gone since the rebrand. We were anxious because it was such a huge change, but have been bowled over by how everyone has accepted it and supported us.”
We Hear You, which gives counselling in Frome, Bath, Trowbridge, Warminster and Street, helped 360 affected by cancer last year.
To find out more about the charity go to www.wehearyou.org.uk or call 01373 455255.
