Hornchurch siblings raise money for Saint Francis Hospice by selling toys

 Lily and Oliver will their stall

A young sister and brother from Hornchurch have raised more than £200 for a local hospice by selling their old toys.

Lily and Oliver Wake set up a stall in their front garden to get rid of toys they were too old for.

They accepted donations for the toys, with all the money raised going towards Saint Francis Hospice.

Lily, nine, said: “We decided to put them outside so people could take them and donate money. We wanted to help the Hospice because they look after sick patients and their families.”said it was “lovely” 

Her favourite part of the experience was seeing children’s faces when they got the toys, whereas Oliver, seven, said: “I liked watching all the people put money in the pot.”

Their mum, Julia, has known of the hospice since she was a child. They cared for her grandad, aunt, and her dad in their later years.

“My family stayed at the Hospice – day and night,” she said. “The nurses looked after all of us. Thanks to them, my childhood memories of being at the Hospice are only happy ones. I remember how calming the atmosphere was.

“Now, I have no fear about that stage of life. There’s no other place like Saint Francis Hospice.”

If you want to help Saint Francis Hospice’s patients and their families through the coronavirus pandemic, you can support the Hospice’s Urgent Appeal.

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