Sisters raise £2,000 for Wakefield Hospice with festive sweetie jars

Poppy, 14, and Tilly Midgley, 12, were inspired to help the Hospice after it was forced to cancel its annual Santa and elf run due to the pandemic.

The enterprising youngsters have been making £3 personalised glass jars filled with sweets and have sold hundreds across the area.

Morrison’s supermarket has provided some of the sweets and has agreed to match fund their endeavour.

Now, the Yorkshire Drive In Cinema has offered its support and is offering cinema goers the chance to purchase them at its show when it screens The Greatest Showman at Capri on The Vine next week.

“We have just been amazed that so many people have wanted them,” said Poppy from Cityfields, near Stanley.

“We live near the Hospice and when my grandad died he left them money to help them and we wanted to do the same. We just thought if we can’t do the elf run then we’ll think of another way to help. We only expected to raise up to £30 from our neighbours and family but it has gone crazy.”

The youngsters have been out delivering across the area and have been overwhelmed by the community spirit in the area.

Tilly said: “Everyone has been really nice. Some people wanted to donate more and said it had really cheered them up what we are doing. It’s been really fun doing it.”

The girls still have many orders coming in and are hoping the final amount will be higher.

Mum Nicky said: “I’m really proud of them, they’ve been doing a great job. In between school and homework my house has turned into a production line and the girls have been spending all their spare time making these pretty presents for people.

"They have had orders from football teams, employers for their staff and even a woman from Dorset ordered some for them to deliver to her friends locally after seeing the post.

“To say they decided to do this just a few weeks ago the support they’ve had from the community has been lovely. All the nice comments and support they have been given from people when we have delivered them has been overwhelming. Many people told us they had lost loved ones there and had such praise for the Hospice.

"It’s the anniversary of losing my dad next week on the day of the cinema showing and it feels quite apt for them to have raised so much money in his memory for a charity close to his heart. He’d have been so proud of them.”

The sweeting cups can still be ordered by emailing [email protected]