Age-defying group raise £400k for charity

The 20-strong committee plan several events each year

A group of volunteers whose average age is 80 have managed to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity.

The Bridgwater Friends Group has managed to collect £406,000 over 18 years for Children’s Hospice South West.

Despite battling cancer, undergoing a mastectomy and lumpectomy and starting radiotherapy treatment, the group's chair, Gill Brown, has still found time to arrange the group's annual bingo fundraiser.

“While running the pub, one of the girls I went to school with lost her son to leukaemia, and that’s what set me off collecting for charity," said the 80-year-old said.

"I was a foster carer, so I love children and I wanted to support a charity that really looked after them.

"It can be tough, but we are all old so we understand if one of us can't make a meeting or have to pull out last-minute," Ms Brown added.

Now famous across Bridgwater, their events have attracted celebrities.

Picnic in the Park 2023 was opened by Bridgwater born Polar athlete and explorer, Rosie Stancer.

They have also organised fashion shows, clairvoyant nights and treasure hunt across the town.

Their oldest member is Ruth Gane who is 90 years old. Ruth’s husband Jim was also on the committee before his death in February.

“Being part of the group has given me so much,” said Ruth.

“As well as raising money for CHSW, it has also given me the most wonderful friendships.”

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