Supporter Barbara receives Order of Mercy medal
One of our long-standing supporters, 86-year-old Barbara Alderson, was nominated for and received a prestigious Order of Mercy award recently.
Nominated by a family friend, Barbara was recognised for the staggering £403,000 she has raised for us over the last 22 years.
She has done this by making homemade jams, marmalades, chutneys and cakes. She’s also encouraged friends, family and neighbours to donate unwanted items to her which she has then sold at car boot sales, bric-a-brac sales and village fetes. For many years, she’s also arranged for people to bring donated items to her garage. She and her daughter Annette have then spent hours sorting through the items including clothes and small items of furniture and toys, getting them ready to be taken to our retail warehouse. From here the items are sold to raise more money to support our hospice and the care we give local people.
Frankie Goodall, our Supporter Development Co-ordinator said, “It’s been my absolute pleasure to be Barbara’s primary contact in the Fundraising Team for over 8 years.
We are all so grateful for her outstanding commitment to fundraising for our hospice. Her support has made an incredible difference to the local people we care for.
As well as the tremendous amount of money Barbara has raised, she’s represented our hospice as a perfect ambassador.
The community knows her as ‘the lady who makes the delicious cakes, jams and chutneys’: a very well-deserved title! If I ever phone her before 9am, I apologise for the early morning call, but she often assures me that she already has 6 fruit cakes cooling on the side!
Barbara always takes time to listen to others when they’re parting with items which belonged to a neighbour, or someone recently bereaved. In her own way she provides extended hospice support, assuring people of how much we will appreciate their donations.
We’re thrilled that Barbara has been awarded the prestigious Order of Mercy medal.”
Along with her daughter Annette and Frankie, Barbara received her award at an awards ceremony which took place at Mansion House, in the City of London, in the presence of HRH Princess Katerina of Yugoslavia, The Lady Mayoress of London (Locum Tenens) and many other distinguished guests.
The Rt Hon the Lord Lingfield, President of the League of Mercy said,
“Mrs Alderson has done extraordinary work for those most in need. She is a marvellous example of someone whose longstanding and voluntary dedication to the service and welfare of others is noteworthy and remarkable and we were delighted to be able to make this well-deserved award to her.”
The League of Mercy was originally created in 1899 for the encouragement and recognition of voluntary work in hospitals and the community. It was refounded as a nationwide registered charity in 1999 and now continues the work of the original founder, the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII.
If you’re feeling inspired and would like to find ways you can support the hospice visit our DIY Fundraising pages for some helpful ideas to get you started.
