Ladies Circle

The evening of February 24th saw the culmination of a year's worth of outstanding fundraising success for Harpenden Circle, with the presentation of a record-breaking �18,000 to charity.�

At�a celebration dinner held at Hammonds End Golf Club, representatives from local charities Harpenden MENCAP and Home-Start St Albans City & District, as well as two children's charities with local connections, CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young ) and The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) were presented with a large donation from Harpenden Circle towards vital support, equipment and life-saving research.

Harpenden MENCAP based in Harpenden for 50 years, was the largest single beneficiary of the evening and was presented with a cheque for just over �7,000. Karen Stafford, Director of Harpenden MENCAP was thrilled with the amount raised by Harpenden Circle.

"Thank-you so much for raising such a wonderful amount of money" she said. "One of the services we provide is respite care for young people aged 5-19 years old with learning disabilities. The money raised will help fund a new sensory garden area, a new mini-bus and the purchase of some local land to build new premises."

Receiving her cheque for �4,680 on behalf of CRY, was Katy Turberville, who lives in Harpenden. Katy courageously spoke about how her family sadly lost their daughter Hannah in February 2007 and the family found a support network in CRY for those bereaved from sudden cardiac death. Since 1995 CRY has made significant steps in facilitating research and conducting screening to help prevent sudden cardiac death in the young. An alarming 12 people under 35 are estimated to die in this country each week from sudden cardiac death.

"The money raised will go towards helping 12 more families benefit from the professional expertise of the CRY Centre for Cardiac Pathology at the Brompton Hospital. The centre is the first of its kind and facilitates vital ongoing research into the pathology of the condition, leading to a greater understanding and awareness of the causes of sudden cardiac death in the young. The centre plays a small but vital part in establishing the cause of a sudden death and so helping a family come to terms with their grief."

Nikki Lynes, representing St Albans Home-Start , received a cheque for just over �3,000. "A huge thank-you to everyone for raising such an amount of money." She said. "The money raised will help train three new volunteers to support local families. Children need a happy and secure home life, and since 2001 we have helped local families overcome challenges and provide support for as long as they need it."

Travelling all the way from Southend to receive a cheque for another �3,200 for her charity JDRF was Emma Penney. The money raised would fund 53 hours of research into a cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

The record-breaking amount of money raised by Harpenden Circle was the result of the hugely popular Christmas Gift and Craft Fair, held on the 28th & 29th November 2008 and visited by over 3,000 local residents. The event also benefited from local sponsorship and increased local publicity. The 2009 Christmas Gift & Craft Fair will be held on 20th and 21st November in the Public Halls, Harpenden.