Flower club donates £4,000 to charity

Chair of the club, Pat Wright, said that the festival is a three yearly event and the club had chosen two very special charities who each received a cheque of 2,000.

She said: "One of the charities we chose is, 'Rachaels House' - it's a new venture that's raising money to buy a house for respite care for children and their families.

The other, is being given to St Martha's church, who are in turn donating it to CAFOD, (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) which have a special appeal for the Democratic Republic of the Congo."

Receiving the cheque on behalf of Rachaels House was founder of the charity, Jeanette Atkinson. Her daughter Rachael tragicly died of malignant melanoma in 2002 at the age of seventeen, and she said it was through her experiences when Rachael became ill that she had the vision to begin the charity.

She said: "When Rachael was having treatment there was nothing available to us. There was respite care for children but that ended at the age of sixteen, and adult care began at eighteen - there was nothing in between."

Jeanette, who lives in Eastbourne said they hope to raise a million pounds in order to convert a Victorian house, which everyone in Sussex will benefit from, and which she said will be holiday respite care where people can relax: "I want the home to be a place where families can come and bring their dogs if they have one. A place where they can have some very special memories with their loved one."

Receiving the cheque on behalf of St Martha's Church was Father Chris Spain, who said that local churches in the area will also be taking a follow-up collection for CAFOD on 6th & 7th December.

The flower festival also held a competition of club members stunning Christmas floral displays, a raffle, a demonstration of the magic of Christmas and a sales table. Teas and coffees were served.

For more information on the charities visit the websites at: www.cafod.org.uk and www.rachaelshouse.org.uk