Festive lights raise thousands for local hospice

Neighbours on a Thornton close have raised nearly £6,000 for their local adults and children’s hospice with a spectacular display of Christmas lights, attracting visitors from around the resort and as far afield as Manchester.

Residents of Borage Close – renamed Christmas Close during the festive season – held their usual Christmas lights display to bid farewell to the challenges of 2020, supporting Trinity Hospice and Brian House Children’s Hospice.

But none could have imagined just how successful their illuminated extravaganza would be.

Borage Close resident Debbie Bamber said: “Our Christmas lights display is just something we’ve always done, and in 2020 we decided to do it to support a local charity. We all agreed on Trinity and Brian House, as it’s a charity close to a lot of our hearts.

“We raised a total of £5,916. That’s just incredible!”

As well as lights, the street was adorned with collection buckets, which residents were emptying every half an hour.

Even on Christmas Eve, Borage Close raised £582 as families gathered – socially distanced – to ring bells at 6pm to cheer on Father Christmas.

“It was probably the best Christmas Eve we’ve ever had,” Debbie said.

“People have been so generous, especially when so many people were put on furlough and others lost their jobs completely.

“We’ve all really enjoyed seeing everyone come to our street. We’ve not been able to see our friends and families, or go to Christmas parties, so it was really nice to see so many people from a distance, and to see the joy that it has brought.”

Debbie said the success of the street’s charity Christmas lights display was down to the community spirit in Borage Close.

She added: “We’ve all known each other for years; we all help each other out. We all get on so well, which shows when we’ve all come together like this.”

Trinity and Brian House’s Head of Fundraising, Linzi Warburton, said: “Each night we saw posts on social media of families visiting Borage Close, and could see how much of a success it was going to be.

“The amazing residents of Borage Close have put on such a wonderful display, spreading joy to those who came to see it, and raising much needed funds for our hospice. We are so grateful to everyone on Borage Close, as well as all who went to visit and made a donation so that we can reach everyone who needs our care on the Fylde coast.”