Georgia on their mind as event raises funds

FUNDRAISER . . . Sheila Cronby (left) with Norma Doran and Nicola Parsons’s two daughters at the charity event held in Sheila’s garden

A FUNDRAISING fair in tribute to a tragic little girl sparked a flurry of donations to charity.

Sheila Cronby, from Greenfield, held the charity event in memory of her great-niece Georgia May Kershaw, from Watersheddings, who died at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, on March 6 from a heart attack, aged just 14 months.

Georgia May had been born with three holes in her heart but after surgery and trips to hospitals across the country it was hoped she would get better.

But her condition deteriorated and she was admitted to Alder Hey.

Mrs Cronby said: “Ronald McDonald House, situated in the hospital grounds, cares for parents of critically-ill children.

“Georgia May’s parents could not have coped without the help of the volunteers who run it. So I decided to have a charity fair to raise money for them.”

Kind-hearted friends Norma Doran and Nicola Parsons heard about the event and donated a generous £1,500 to Ronald McDonald House from their trust Breast Friends, which helps cancer patients.

Mrs Cronby raised £270 from the event at her Beech Avenue home on Saturday, which included a tombola, stalls and refreshments.

She said: “I’m thrilled to bits to feel that someone appreciated my efforts so much to donate such a large amount of money.

“Lots of people also came to the event and helped and I was so touched. People were so kind.

“It was a very wet day but we had a very large tent and two large gazebos.

“I would like to thank everyone who supported us with donations, gifts and offers of help.

“My relatives, friends and neighbours were invaluable. They stood by their stalls in very wet conditions from early on until 4pm and stayed to clear away afterwards.”

Mrs Cronby is awaiting surgery for a back problem and added: “Without the help I received I would not have been able to hold the fair.

Among those who helped was Philip Grundy from Diggle firm Simply Signs who created posters to advertise the event.