Fair fundraises for Bexhill family

Richmond Methodist Home hosted a raffle, table sales and plenty of tea and cakes as part of an ongoing fundraising drive for the James Haggerty Memorial Fund.

Jackie Haggerty, mother of the Bexhill teenager who died in March of an obscure heart condition, is an employee at the home, and with manager Emma Rich-Spice has arranged for the year's activities to be split between Richmond and Cardiac Risk in the Young '“ a charity raising awareness of conditions leading to Sudden Cardiac Death.

Speaking at the fair, James' grandmother Cath Haggata, who recently hosted a fundraising garden party and cheese and wine evening, said: "I feel that this helps me each day. I feel I am doing something in his memory.

"It helps me along, and I feel he's still with us when I'm doing all this. He would tell us to go for it."

Prizes donated by local businesses, volunteers making tea and manning stalls, and people queuing through the door '“ strong support was offered from all corners.

Cath particularly thanked Kathy Harmer, of Little Common wig company A Touch Of Glamour, who regularly donates to the charity.

She said: "James' favourite subject was art and we have had a plaque made and given to Bexhill High.

"It will be presented every year to the top achiever in that subject, and on the plaque it says 'Go for it', which was like his motto."

James' father Russell plans another fundraiser, requiring new levels of commitment and discipline. Not currently a cyclist, next September he rides from London to Paris over four days with a group of friends and colleagues from Battle Abbey.

He will raise around 7,000 for CRY from the trip.

Before then he travels to Kenya with the school to help build a classroom for pupils who currently currently study under shelter of trees.

He said: "We are going to be with a Masai tribe, using just handtools. We can't use any batteries because there's nothing to charge them up with.

"It's going to be back to basics."

The busy hall was a testament to their work.

The building in Collington Lane East is currently undergoing major development works. By April next year six new rooms will be added to the dementia wing.

Funded by Methodist Homes for the Aged, a major charity provider of not-for-profit care homes, the work also includes a new lounge and complete garden makeover.

Despite the disruptive activity more fundraising events are planned by the home, which will continue to support the Haggertys. Details will be published in the Observer in due course.