Summer May Be Long Gone

But local charities are still benefiting from Chiswick's Fair funding

Representatives from local charities gathered with volunteers this week to celebrate a successful Chiswick Summer Fair for 2010.

Organised by the parishioners of Our Lady of Grace and St Edward's Church, the annual fair started life as a parish fete and donkey derby. Since moving back to its original location on Turnham Green in 2004 over £75,000 has been distributed to local charities.

Fr. Anthony Dwyer, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Grace and St Edward's, together with Chiswick Summer Fair's chairwoman Denise Sharpe presented cheques totalling £17,500 to six local charities, including Tommy Hollis Foundation, Hounslow Furniture Project, Hounslow Extra Club, Cedars Acton Homeless Concern - who benefited from this year's Fair.

Speaking at the event Simon Rodwell from local youth project Cedars thanked Fr Anthony and the Fair Committee for the donation and explained that the money would be “put to good use to help deliver the after school clubs that Cedars runs in Chiswick”.

Chris and Kate Hollis, who established the Tommy Hollis Foundation (THF) in memory of their son Tommy who was killed in a tragic accident in Chiswick in February, explained how the Foundation was working locally to help children with life threatening diseases in partnership with other groups such as React.

And Hounslow Extra Club's Michele Rooney described how the group provides support for families of disabled and other special needs children, particularly during school holidays when other support networks are closed and said that the donation would support one week of its activities for 2011.

The Chiswick Summer Fair invites applications each year from charities that work locally with children, the elderly and to prevent homelessness. For further details please contact the Parish Office, Our Lady of Grace and St Edward’s, 247 High Rd London W4 4PU.

December 7, 2010