Donation to make a big difference to Daventry charity

Cllr Deanna Eddon presented a cheque to the Pete Spencer’s Helping Hands Memorial Fund after raising the money during her role as chairman of the council during 2015/16.

The fund was established in 1980 by Pete Spencer MBE, to offer support to local children with serious illnesses and disabilities, providing specialist equipment, and organised activities. Since Pete’s death in 2005 it has been looked after by his son Ian Spencer and a board of trustees.

Claire Lister was helped by the charity as a young child due to suffering a heart condition and now acts as its ambassador. She joined Ian to receive the cheque for £3,843 from Cllr Eddon during a presentation at the Council offices recently.

Ian said: “As a small charity, this means so much to us and every penny will go towards helping local children.

“The support that Deanna has given us over the last year has been invaluable, not just because of this donation, but also because she has done such a fantastic job of raising awareness of the charity among people in the district.”

Cllr Eddon, who raised the money through various events and donations during her year in office, said: “I have enjoyed a wonderful year as chairman of Daventry District Council and I would like to thank everyone who supported the charity during that time.

“People have shown amazing generosity, and the money we have raised will help Ian and the charity continue to provide support to so many families in the Daventry area who have disabled children in need.”