The Christmas tree collection in aid of East Cheshire Hospice raised a record £150,000 this year.
Delighted co-founder of the scheme Richard Raymond said: “It’s our 21st year, so we’ve come of age with a bang.”
Around 1,000 trees were collected over three days last month once lockdown restrictions were eased – a sixth of the trees that would have been recycled had the collection not been postponed from January.
Most donors got rid of trees themselves and some who had not even registered also made donations.
The funds are enough to provide palliative care for three weeks at the Hospice which needs £7,500 a day to keep its doors open.
Tree collection co-founders Richard Raymond (left) and Pete Chapman.
Richard said: “We did get some bemused looks as we carried dead old brown Christmas trees at the end of April, but it gave us the opportunity to tell people about the collection and the Hospice.
“People knew about the plight of charities and the Hospice, in particular, because of Covid-19 and they were even more generous with their donations this year with the average amount donated per tree going up.
“It’s a wonderful indication of the community in which we serve that people put their hands so deep into their pockets. Their generosity is quite overwhelming and we thank them sincerely.”
Richard and fellow co-founder Pete Chapman will now get a break of a couple of months before they start planning the next collection in January 2022.
Volunteer Mel Curwen helps out during the Christmas tree collection.