A COFFEE morning and cake stall at St Andrews Social Centre, Isleham, raised more than £300 for our Help Our Hospice campaign on Saturday. More than 50 villagers enjoyed coffee and cakes. It was brilliant, said organiser Mary Wightman. We raised £305

A COFFEE morning and cake stall at St Andrews Social Centre, Isleham, raised more than £300 for our Help Our Hospice campaign on Saturday. More than 50 villagers enjoyed coffee and cakes. "It was brilliant," said organiser Mary Wightman. "We raised £305 - which was good for two hours' work."

Pictured are Mary Wightman, Pam Liddiard, Perry Ferris, Angela Wells and Janice Pope.

Photo: HELEN DRAKE 0290

IN THE SWIM

A member of staff at Waitrose, Ely, raised £625 for Milton Hospice with a sponsored swim. Di O'Connor, who works at the Cloisters store part-time, decided to swim lengths of The Paradise Pool, raising £325 in sponsorship. Colleague Val Cousins, whose grandson Tony was cared for at the hospice, said: "We are very proud of her." She added that Waitrose head office contributed a further £300 to the total.

Annette Thurbon of EACH is pictured receiving a cheque for Milton Hospice from Val Cousins, Di O'Connor, and store manager Sarah Jackson.

Photo: HELEN DRAKE 0486

HAIR WE GO

It was a case of 'hair today, gone tomorrow' for fitness instructor Greg Hill as he underwent a thorough waxing for Milton Hospice. The 29-year-old from March, who works at The Atrium Club at Newnham Street, Ely, had his chest, legs and underarms waxed by resident beautician Zoe Furness, pictured. Greg's efforts raised just under £300. He said: "It was the pain-barrier I was worried about! I raised some money for Breast Cancer Research last year and this seemed like the thing to do this time."

IN A PICKLE

Five brave souls from Sutton Conservative Club undertook what must be the ultimate challenge last week - eating 50 pickled onions each in 10 minutes.

Tony Rutterford, Lyndsey Hall, Ian Bacchus, Donna Rutterford and William Scoular, pictured, all had their tastebuds numbed in the name of Milton Hospice.

The best effort came from Mr Bacchus, who managed to eat all 50 onions in 8min 15sec. Mrs Rutterford finished second, with an impressive 45 onions consumed in 10 minutes.

In total, 230 onions were eaten out of a possible 250 - showing there's no skin off members at The Brook club!

Two other events were held at the club to raise money for Milton Hospice: a Play Your Cards Right evening, and the emptying of a change bottle which has been on the bar since December. £1,852.

The money was presented to Marion Hough, of the hospice, last week.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

If you want to raise money for the Milton Hospice call 01223 205198 for a fund-raising pack and then let us know so we can give you some publicity, before and after the event. Call 01353 667831 and ask to speak to someone on the newsdesk.

Sign our petition. Children's hospices receive between 8 and 15 per cent of their funding from central Government. We have launched a petition to put pressure on the Government to increase the funding. Go on-line at Cambs24.co.uk or come into the Ely Standard at 38 Market Street, Ely and sign up.

For more details about the campaign email the editor at: debbie.davies@archant.co.uk