Seaton family raise £1,600 for two cancer charities

Annie Parr (Image: Archant)

Bill and Martha Parr, of Manor Farm, Seaton, with the help of their friends and their children Emily, Harry and Annie, and Emily’s husband Sam, threw a charity function in aid of CLIC Sargent and Exeter Paediatric Oncology Fund on Saturday, July 1.

Both charities are close to the hearts of the family as Bill and Martha’s youngest child Annie was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2005, aged 11, just as she was starting year seven at Colyton Grammar School.

Annie underwent three courses of chemotherapy and, as a consequence, developed severe pneumonia and a pleural effusion and was a patient on Bramble ward in the RD&E hospital.

Annie’s illness had a huge impact on the whole family, who are extremely grateful for the care she received but she is now doing really well, is 23 and training to be an accountant after gaining a 1st class honours degree in accountancy and finance at Exeter University.

Bill and Martha Parr (Image: Archant)

Annie is now two years into her training with a large accountancy firm in Exeter. The family hope that Annie’s story will help give hope to other families affected by childhood cancer.

The evening included a raffle, and disco by Rob Summers.

The raffle was a huge success with 35 prizes donated by local people and businesses, which the family would like to thank for their overwhelming generosity.

These include: Fortnam Smith and Banwell, Seaton; Francis Clark Chartered Accountants, Exeter; Just Flowers, Seaton; The Gerrard Arms, Colyton; Bovey Down Farm; Coastal Craft, Seaton; Taunton Racecourse; Colyford Butchers; Steve’s Stores, Seaton; Seaton Print and Design; Tower Services, Seaton; Colyton Butchers; Colyford Post Office; Seaton Gateway; The Garden Shop, Colyton; Kushi Kitchen, Kilmington; Axe Valley Motors, Axminster; Byrne Jones, Seaton; The Malthouse, Seaton; Seaton Tramway; Pecorama, Beer; Clare Lawrence Holistic Massage and Reflexology; Beer’s Self Drive Motor Boats; Jimmy Green Marine, Beer; The Tinderbox, Colyton and further prizes donated by friends and family.

In total, the evening raised just over £1,600 smashing the target of £1000.

A spokesman for the family said: “We would like to bring awareness to the hard work of CLIC Sargent but also the little known charity ‘Exeter Paediatric Oncology Fund’ who raise money to help families affected by childhood cancer, specifically those in Bramble Ward of The RD&E Hospital.

“This can be from practical financial help for day to day problems, as well as to help send a family away for a weekend for much needed respite.

“We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped make the event such a success.”