There were gasps as Wokingham Fireworks organisers celebrated fundraising total

AT A ceremony to celebrate the amount raised by this year’s Wokingham Fireworks event, there were audible gasps when the figure was revealed.

This year the group raised an enormous £41,500.

Organised by Wokingham Fireworks Charitable Trust, the annual display provides community entertainment while supporting good causes.

Members of the trust come from four fundraising groups: Windsor Forest Unicorn, the Rotary Clubs of Wokingham and Easthampstead, and Wokingham Lions, each of whom present a portion of the total to their club’s chosen charity.

Sums were also given to Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Adrian Mather, and to Wokingham Town Mayor Cllr Rob Comber for their nominated organisations.

Celebrating the success of the 35th Wokingham Firework event, and the work of six worthy charities, chair of Wokingham Fireworks Charitable Trust David Gold thanked all contributors for their hard work, generosity and community spirit that makes the fundraiser a major borough success.

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“The weather was kind, and the fireworks were breathtaking,” he said.

“Just before 5pm that day the last ticket was sold online, meaning that for the third year all 10,000 tickets were sold,” he said.

“As a result, we are thrilled and proud to be able to support the efforts of six committed, passionate and dedicated charities.”

The sum of £10,000 was passed to each of the four clubs, who then donated £5,500 to their chosen charity, and will distribute the remaining £4,500 to other deserving causes.

President of the Rotary Club of Easthampstead James Strugnell presented a cheque to listening volunteers Maddy and Zak from Bracknell, Wokingham and Ascot Samaritans.

Maddy said: “At our Bracknell at Hope Cottage around 112 listening volunteers keep the telephone lines open 24/7.

“This year we’ve taken 18,800 calls, completed 3,000 shifts, and made available 9,000 hours of listening to people who are truly in need of someone who will listen confidentially and who won’t judge them.”

“We are enormously grateful for this huge amount of money, and will use it wisely.”

President of Windsor Forest Unicorn Bob Harrison awarded a gift to their nominated charity, DEBRA.

Cy and Karen from Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association explained: “The painful genetic condition results in butterfly thin skin, and affects around 5,000 people in the UK.

“Sufferers endure blisters and tearing at the slightest touch.

“At DEBRA we help people through the pain, and to find a cure.

We can’t do it without you – thank you so much.”

President of Wokingham Lions Andy Goffin introduced their charity, Keep Mobile Community Transport.

Sally Gibson and Gisella from Keep Mobile explained that the charity has grown from one bus and one driver in 1993 to help residents of Wokingham and Bracknell to get out and about, into an organisation with 11 buses, 21 drivers, and more than 4,000 members.

“Last year we took on another 1,000 members – people who can’t use public transport, or whose services have been cut, so this money will help to buy another bus – thank you for this wonderful surprise,” said Sally.

President of the Rotary Club of Wokingham Nick Campbell White presented a cheque to their nominated charity Home Start Wokingham.

Gareth Heard from the group responded: “In Wokingham we believe that the first five years of a child’s life are crucial, and that early intervention is critical to prevent families reaching crisis point, so our non-judgemental volunteers come alongside parents to help them to cope and move forward.

“This gift will enable us to take on further volunteers to help more families.”

The amount of £750 was also given to each of Wokingham’s mayors for their chosen charities.

Borough Mayor Cllr Adrian Mather presented a cheque to Rachel Smith and Alison Saunders from First Days Children’s Charity.

They said: “We’d love to be out of a job, but we’ll be there as long as we’re needed, providing families with their practical needs, and helping them to understand how to move forward positively.”

Town Mayor Cllr Rob Comber awarded his gift to Jez from Share Wokingham.

The charity passes on food that would otherwise be wasted, to families that need it, with regular pop-up distribution locations around the borough.

Rob Comber said that he had been looking for a small charity that makes a big contribution for its size, and was delighted to be able to support Share Wokingham.