Support for Sam Nunn’s ‘Tree of life’ has overwhelmed village fund raisers

AN UPLYME pub’s fund raising appeal to help a young local cancer victim has raised an amazing �10,500 in less than two months.

Organisers of Sam Nunn’s “tree of life” say they have been overwhelmed by the generous support from locals and visitors.

Talbot Arms landlords Steve and Wendy Gardner put up a picture of a tree in the bar in May and invited people and organisations to colour in one of its 100 branches at �100 a go.

The money will go towards the cost of 18-year-old Sam’s pioneering treatment in Germany, which is expected to top �72,000, after transport and accommodation costs are met.

Mrs Gardner said when people heard about their appeal to help the young Woodroffe School student they responded with incredible generosity.

She told The Herald: “When we heard that Sam needed to raise over �70,000 for his treatment in Germany we knew we had to help.

“Steve thought up the idea of Sam’s Tree Of Life, and set the ambitious target of trying to raise �10,000. His idea was to ask our villagers to buy and colour in a branch for �100.

“Dot Wood, the Head of Art at Woodroffe, kindly drew the wonderful tree and it went up on the pub wall on May 16.

“Individuals, groups of friends and neighbours, students from Woodroffe,

the Pre School, the Brownies, Mrs Ethelstons School, Church members, Uplyme ladies group and even the campers at Adrian and Lorraine’s Hook Farm Camp site have all come into the pub and coloured in their branches with kind and generous hearts.”

Mrs Gardner said some of the individual donations had been amazing. One woman., staying at a local camp site, paid �500 for her branch.

She added: “Steve and I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone in our lovely village and neighbouring communities for their overwhelming kindness and generosity. Sam and his family are very grateful to them all. The support has been amazing.”

Sam, who suffers from the rare neuroblastoma , is currently undergoing his second course of treatment in Germany for a rare cancer known as.

Many other groups are raising money to help pay for his treatment including local football, cricket and swimming clubs. Donations can also be left at the Nags Head, in Lyme Regis, where his auntie, Debbie Hamon, is the Landlady.

** Sam’s tree of life is to be framed and presented to him. Pictured holding it are Talbot Arms bar staff (l to r) Emily Burrett, Ollie Borgeat and Emily Jones.