These are very trying times for all of us with lockdown and the fears of Covid19. LHCRT Chairperson Chris Bull said "I sincerely hope that all our Members and Volunteers are safe and well. For those of us who are used to being in work parties we are missing our exercise, the sense of achievement and the wonderful camaraderie."
We will also suffer financially as our regular fundraising events start in Spring.
Our popular Quiz Night and Eric and Doreen’s All Day Coffee Morning have
already been cancelled, and the summer events at which we sell raffle tickets
are unlikely to go ahead.
All of our volunteers are unpaid, often not even claiming expenses, but the Trust
still needs funds to cover numerous day-to-day running costs. Whilst we have
major fund-raising ongoing such as the David Suchet Tunnel Vision Campaign to
raise £1,000,000, we take a look here at some other ways the Trust, and
individual supporters, are are working to raise funds.
With the Cross-City railway bridge now in place, and restricted funds in hand, it becomes possible for the Trust to engage contractors to approach the Lichfield Canal tunnel site, although the tunnel itself will still need major funding in due course. However, as the Trust must move forward with what can be achieved with its own and visiting volunteer forces, we are launching a new initiative to fund materials needed to make progress with the diversion route from the Fosseway Heath site that will later connect with the railway tunnel.
Are you far sighted? Your name could be on the Lichfield Canal far into the future with our 2020 Falkland Road Piling Appeal.
The first £5,000 supply of an expected total over £20,000 has already been delivered. It is an opportunity for donors to be acknowledged by an embossed metal tag attached to the piling in permanent appreciation like those still in evidence at Darnford from twenty years ago.
For more information and to donate see our Piling Appeal Page or go straight to our online shop. Forms are also included in the latest issue of Cut Both Ways.
A Lichfield Canal Trust volunteer is raising money for the charity by taking part in
a virtual fun run. Christine Howles, communications director for Lichfield and Hatherton Canals
Restoration Trust, is aiming to run 50k by the end of April, and is asking for
donations to help her push towards her target.
Christine said on her Facebook page: “All the Trust's fundraising events have
been cancelled due to the coronavirus lockdown so money will be tight.
I'm taking part in the 'This Girl Runs' Virtual Fun Run and have committed to run
50k by the end of April.
“I've hit 25k so now need extra motivation to get to the 50k mark.
Your contribution will help me keep on running and reach that 50k; it will also
make an impact to the Trust. Whether you donate £5 or more, every little bit helps.”
This Girl Runs, which has a branch based in Lichfield, build local, fun and
friendly run clubs for beginner and improver runners, helping women to get off the
couch and into their local parks and community to learn to run.
To donate to Christine, visit
https://www.facebook.com/donate/527215601298113/
or you can also donate
at Christine's fundraising virtual fun run
https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/christinesfunrun
Lichfield's canal trust is asking supporters to hold a virtual coffee morning to raise funds, after the annual Easter Gathering held by its president was cancelled because of the coronavirus lockdown.
Eric and Doreen Wood have held a coffee morning and cream tea party at
their home next to the Coventry Canal at Whittington every Easter Saturday
for over 30 years to help raise funds for Lichfield and Hatherton Canals
Restoration Trust.
This year's event was cancelled because of the Covid19 pandemic, robbing
the Trust of vital donations at a time when many other fund-raising
opportunities have been called off.
Now Eric and Doreen's daughter Lisa J Barker has set up a fundraiser on
Facebook, asking people to have a virtual coffee or tea, add a picture on the
Facebook page and make a donation to help the restoration.
Eric was involved in forming the Trust more than 30 years ago, and, said
Lisa, he and Doreen 'are devastated to not share their garden and time with
you lovely people this year'.
To make a donation and post your picture, visit Lisa J Barker on Facebook.
Tony Harding is doing a Facebook fund raiser for LHCRT by walking around his garden 360 times on a virtual walk along the route of the Lichfield canal and the Hatherton canal tow path. Tony's garden is in Ohio!
Tony's wife Sandra is Eric's neice. Tony told us "We regularly come to Whittington to help with the Easter coffee morning and then go out on Credalwood for 2 or 3 weeks.
"Unfortunately as we now live in the USA I am not able to help by giving
time as a volunteer so I thought that doing this walk would be a way to contribute something to LHCRT."
"The worst part of walking a virtual towpath is that there are no pubs along the way!" And it has just started snowing...
To make a donation and read more on Tony's progress visit his Facebook page here.
Tony has a TotalGiving page too if you prefer:
https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/tonysvirtualcanalwalk
We are most grateful to our many supporters who donate things for us to sell
on our Bric-a-Brac stalls, and over the years we must have raised £1000's
this way. Sometimes though, we are given things which are simply too good
for the stall. So recently Aileen and Bev gathered up 10 items and put them
into an auction at Wintertons at Fradley.
Items included some antique
jewellery, porcelain figures, a brass sextant and a 1920's cine projector.
Marketing Team member Bev Marshall said "These are ideal items for us as
they are potentially valuable but not too big. We have only limited storage
space and transport is becoming increasingly difficult. We are grateful to
everyone for donating to us but sadly we do have to be a bit selective."
We are pleased to say the items raised £785.00 with Richard Wintertons Auctioneers generously not taking any commission or fees. A great result,
many thanks to the donors, to Aileen & Bev, and to Richard and his staff for so much help and expert advice.
As the usual avenues to sell our Grand Prize Draw tickets are closed we have made them available online. You can buy the tickets in our online shop and we will email 'virtual tickets' to you. We will hold the physical ticket on your behalf and ensure they are entered in the draw.
With over £1000 in cash prizes this year was set to be our biggest yet. With sales well down the odds of you winning are extremely good!
As we had to cancel our Quiz Night here is a picture puzzle for you: Where was this taken? No prizes!
