A COUPLE who have been fundraising for two charities close to their hearts for more than a decade have been boosted by as donation from their local building society.

Tracey and John Chad have fundraised for the Butterwick House Children’s Hospice and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Support UK in honour of their son Matthew, who passed away, since 2004.

So far this year, the couple have raised more than £1,000 for the two charities with charity tombolas, one for each respected charity and then also a joint raffle, where the funds raised are split between the two.

Darlington Building Society has added an extra £160 donation to be forwarded to each charity, taken from a pot set aside to celebrate the 160th anniversary of its foundation.

Mr Chad said: “Butterwick Children’s Hospice gave our son Matthew the chance to go in the sensory room and swimming pool and still remain supportive today. Spinal Muscular Atrophy Support UK never got to meet Matthew but did put us in touch with someone to talk to in our difficult time.”