Nathan Dunbar from Polegate, who is the founder of the Polegate Scarecrows Community Fund, recently presented two cheques of £450.27 each to the beneficiaries of their annual Scarecrow Festival event.

This year the Polegate Scarecrow Festival, boosted by the running of the Willingdon Scarecrow Festival, raised just over £900 which has been split equally between SERV Sussex and St Wilfrid’s Hospice.

Nathan said “Thanks to you, we can continue empowering community efforts to support those who need it. The money raised will really help our chosen charities, especially during these continued unprecedented difficult times.”

Did you know that 1 in 10 patients in hospital require blood and this is where SERV Sussex come in and your money will help them:

• Keep fleet vehicles fuelled and maintained
• Replace aging vehicles
• Pay for the communications infrastructure needed to service incoming requests from hospitals
• Subsidise safety equipment for riders / drivers
• Raise awareness of the service the charity offers to general public and NHS

St Wilfrid’s Hospice say, “All of our services are free at the point of delivery, but it now costs over £16,000 a day to provide the care we offer – inside the hospice building and out in our local communities. This donation could pay for a Registered Nurse to provide care on our Inpatient Unit for four days and pay for a home visit, which is amazing!”

Cllr Douglas Murray, Mayor of Polegate Town Council said “It was a pleasure to be part of Cheque Presentation held at Willow Tree Financial Services in Polegate it recognised the amazing work by Nathan Dunbar in organising this annual event where local residents come together as a community. I would also like to say a big thank you to all who so generously contributed to the beneficiaries”

A spokesperson from SERV Sussex added “A big thank you to Nathan from the Polegate Scarecrows Community Fund & Rachel at Willow Tree Financial Services for the cheque of £450.27 from the 2021 Polegate & Willingdon Scarecrow Festivals, thank you to everyone who donated and participated in the festival”

Nathan concluded with “Join me in celebrating our 5th Anniversary Polegate Scarecrow Festival next summer! We are planning to mark this milestone with fun filled events in our local communities and have an ambitious fundraising goal for our beneficiaries!”