Pontefract florist raises £46,000 for the Prince of Wales Hospice - in just one year

Her initial target was £30,000 and in just a little over a year, Michelle has raised £46,000 for the hospice, with the support of the community, and is ready to raise more.

Michelle said: “I’ve been reflecting and it only seems like two minutes since I began doing the challenges.

“I haven’t done this for glory, I like to stay humble and It’s great that we’ve smashed the target but I did this to bring our community together to do something for a good cause.”

Michelle’s favourites include completing the world's fastest zip line, a five aside football tournament, hosting the battle of the bands, clay pigeon shooting, shaving her head and parasailing, she also started her own ‘Star Jar’ campaign.

And to top it off she hosted a community party at the Ambience, in Pontefract town centre, to say thank you to the people who helped her complete the challenges.

Her success has helped her become a patron for the Prince of Wales Hospice, and she even met Prince Charles.

Michelle, who runs Michelle's Flowers, said: “Becoming a patron is such an honour, I couldn’t believe it, it’s more reason to keep it going and raise those funds that the hospice needs.

“I felt like I knew Prince Charles, after seeing him on TV for so many years, he was really nice and I managed to make him laugh.”

Michelle would like to keep on inspiring people to do their bit to help the hospice, even after completing her 50 challenges.

She said: “I want to keep this legacy alive, I don’t want this amazing sense of community spirit to die down.

“I’m currently working on re-branding the Star Jar campaign, where people fill jars with change and donate it to the hospice - so the people of Pontefract have a fun and simple way to keep supporting the hospice.

“I like to think of myself as a bridge from the community to the hospice.

“Some people have a hard time visiting if they have lost a loved one there, but through me, they can come and have a chat in my shop and make a donation to this brilliant cause.”

Even after completing all these challenges in a year, Michelle is already planning her next trip with the Prince of Wales Hospice.

She said: “I’ll be doing one challenge a month instead of one a week now, it’s a bit of a busy period in the flower shop with it being Valentine's Day and coming up to Mother’s Day.

"We’re also planning a trip with the hospice to Thailand to go help a community school out there and an elephant sanctuary, so we’re raising money for that now too.”

To read more about the Prince of Wales Hospice, click here