TWO of the Downend area’s fundraising Christmas lights displays have raised more than £6,000 between them for good causes.
The Boscombe Crescent display organised by Nigel Grimsby, his son Matt, neighbours Jack and Michelle Bell, and Paul and Marie Pritchard, is set to raise between £3,600 and £4,000 for the Shine Bright appeal, for festive light displays supporting the Grand Appeal for Bristol Children’s Hospital.
Nigel said the display was on track to beat last year’s overall total despite the winter weather doing its worst, with heavy rain on the opening night and two storms.
The Voice reported last month how members of the Christmas Dubs illuminated VW van group had rushed to take down the lights ahead of Storm Darragh in December, while Nigel and his family were away on a trip to Poland.
He said: “When we came back we put it all back up, then there was another storm – in total we had to put it up and down four times!
“We’re over the moon at the amount we’ve raised – fair play to people, as we know times are hard.”
In nearby Sutherland Avenue Jake Skinner raised £2,800 for Macmillan Cancer Support from his display, which was running for a seventh year. Jake, 17, has now raised more than £22,000 with his displays, which he started in memory of his sister Stacie, who died aged 17 on Christmas Day 2015, of anaphylactic shock.
Jake said: “This is another amazing amount and we look forward to seeing you for the 2025 display.”
Macmillan Cancer Support fundraising manager Atalia O’Leary said: “We want to be there to help everyone with cancer to live life as fully as they can, but we can’t do it without the amazing people who fundraise for us – so a huge thank-you to Jake, his family and of course everyone who donated and showed us such kindness and generosity.”