The tiny village of Burn, near Selby, has raised £785 for Selby Disability Forum, despite Covid curtailing the usual fund-raising events over the last two years.
The cash was handed over to Selby Disability Forum chairman Phil Dodson at the village pub The Wheatsheaf on Thursday (12 May).
The charity was nominated by Martin Wedgwood, North Yorkshire Police Neighbourhood Policing Inspector for Selby, when he switched on the village’s Christmas Lights in November 2019.
It has benefitted from socially distanced fund-raising events during lockdown, which included a Santa sleigh drive-round of the village for Christmas 2020 and 2021.
Phil and Martin were amazed by the amount raised, and both extended their thanks to everyone who contributed.
Phil said that the money would be put to very good use by the charity which works to support and empower people living with disabilities.
Burn first held an official lights’ switch-on in 2007, supporting the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and its ‘Helicopter Heroes’.
Since then, a gallery of TV presenters, acting stars and VIPs have participated in the event – including Jean Alexander (Hilda Ogden from Coronation Street), BBC presenter Harry Gration, York’s favourite panto dame Berwick Kaler and the Selby Rock Choir.
There was a change of emphasis in 2016 when long-serving local postman Myles Boothman became the first ‘local hero’ to switch on the lights.
He was followed by Yorkshire Ambulance Service Divisional Commander Paul Mudd in 2017, Jez Rushworth, former interim Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive in 2018 and North Yorkshire Police’s Martin Wedgwood in 2019.
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