HOW many people would organise a huge event in the hope of raising cash for a good cause - and agree to pay £1,000 of their own money if it doesn’t work out?
That was the incredible gamble taken by 20 members of Southport Hesketh Round Table, who organised last November’s Bonfire & Grand Firework Display at Victoria Park (full story, page 40).
In the end it was a spectacular victory, with almost 10,000 people paying to go through the gates and with a breath-taking £25,000 raised for Queenscourt Hospice.
It was partly down to the tremendous generosity of a number of companies who donated cash or services - not least a £10,000 sum from Paymentshield - and partly down to such overwhelming support from the people of Southport who turned out in such numbers.
But it that it happened at all is down to the courage and conviction of a small group of organisers, either members of or closely affiliated to Southport Hesketh Round Table, who met on a regular basis in the kitchen at the home of Tom and Ilyd Bradshaw to plot their blueprint for success.
And success it was - they have now decided, bravely, to make the display an annual fixture in our town’s calendar, which they now hope to establish as ‘Southport’s Official Bonfire Night’.
On Monday, the organisers are in line for a Southport Visiter Community Heroes Award, and rarely has such a nomination been so richly deserved.
They will not be on their own however, with a number of similar stories due to emerge of people who go that extra distance to make a huge impression on the communities in which they live.
Don’t forget to pick up your copy of the Southport Visiter next Friday - we can guarantee these stories will be well worth reading.
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
« Previous | Home | Next »