NEIGHBOURS in Darlington are set to raise money for St Teresa’s Hospice this VE day after it made an emergency appeal for funds during the Covid-19 crisis.

Sarah Garbutt and 17 other residents of Leconfield are coming together - from a distance - on Friday to run two point six miles each up and down their street to raise money for the hospice.

Ms Garbutt said: “We put out a note on Saturday about doing it on VE day and so far we’ve had 17 people come back and say they would like to be involved, which is quite a good turnout, we’re only a little cul-de-sac. We thought if we only had ten people we’d be doing well.

“I have done some fundraising for the hospice previously and I try to do what I can for the hospice because I think it’s such a fantastic thing and we can’t lose it, so my neighbour suggested we do the two point six challenge up and down the road to help raise funds.

“We’re all doing two point six miles each up and down the road, and we have a system in place because of social distancing meaning we set two people off at a time, wait a few minutes and set another two people off after.”

St Teresa’s Hospice has been struggling during the lockdown as a lot of its much-needed fundraising events at this time of year have been cancelled.

In March the hospice started an emergency online appeal to help raise the £3m it needs in order to provide free day, in-patient and community care for people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families in Darlington, South Durham and North Yorkshire.

Ms Garbutt added: “It’s a bit of community spirit and because it’s VE day, it’s a nice thing to do on that day since we’re all off and looking for something to do at home and it’s all about raising money for St Teresa’s and trying to get as much as we can for them.

“We have been touched personally as a family by the good work that the hospice has done, they are absolutely amazing and it makes me quite emotional because they are so lovely and we take these things and facilities like the hospice for granted, we have to keep it going.”

The neighbours have raised £190 for St Teresa's Hospice with a goal of reaching £500, and you can help towards this by donating to their Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Leconfield-Darlington.

St Teresa's charity buckets will also be out while the run takes place for anyone who wishes to donate on the day.