Record-breakers (From Warrington Guardian)

Record-breakers

SHOPPERS in Warrington deserve a well earned pat on the back after they helped St Rocco's Hospice smash all previous fundraising records this Christmas.

Over five weeks, the hospice stall in the Golden Square shopping centre coined in more than £36,000 in the run-up to Christmas.

The final total stood at £36,300, beating the target of £28,000.

Last year the hospice was elated when the stall raised a total of £24,000, smashing the 2002 total of £20,000, leaving staff astonished at the generosity of the town residents.

Year on year, the Warrington public continues to excel, with shoppers digging deep into their pockets.

Among this year's bestsellers

on the stall were flashing St Rocco's badges, gold angels and Christmas hedgehogs which all helped contribute to the total.

Stalwart St Rocco's volunteer Stan 'The Man' Hadcroft, of Latchford, who has helped man the stall for the past three years, set his sights on achieving the ambitious total of £28,000 this year.

As well as purchasing gifts and merchandise from the stall, many shoppers just stopped to hand over a donation and pass on words of encouragement.

Stan puts this year's success down to the wide variety of items on sale this year and the generosity of the people of the town.

The team of volunteers manned the stall round the clock seven days a week in the run up to Christmas setting up at around 8am and leaving at around 6pm on weekdays.

Mike Bloomfield, from St Rocco's, said: "It's absolutely astounding just how generous people are."