Thanks a punnet! Alford farm's strawberry fayre raised £36,000 for Marie Curie

A Lincolnshire farm’s annual strawberry fayre has raised a staggering £36,000 for Marie Curie Lincolnshire since it began 13 years ago.

Thousands of visitors have enjoyed Galley Hill Farm’s annual summer Strawberry Fayre in Alford over the years, organised by second-generation farmers Ian and Sandra Scaman and a volunteer team of family and friends.

The fayres offered strawberry picking, cream teas and a hog roast, alongside a bouncy castle, live wood carving, music from ’Banjo Bob’, local stallholders and homemade jam stalls.

With this year’s fundraising total of £6,000 added, the final figure of £36,000 has now been announced.

“The money raised for Marie Curie in the last 10 years could have funded 1,565 hours of night-time nursing care at home for people living with a terminal illness across Lincolnshire, or 1,384 hours of bereavement support by phone or webchat,” a spokesperson for the team said.

The couple have now decided to bring the annual fayre to a close “on a high”.

“We feel the time has come to give our volunteers a break, but while we won't be doing the Strawberry Fayre we will continue to support this amazing charity,” Ian and Sandra said.

“It provided invaluable support to us during the end-of-life care of our mother, Anne Scaman. While the Strawberry Fayre will not be continuing, the PYO fruit business definitely will, with an honesty jar for the ones you try before you buy.”

Lauren Alexander, Senior Community Fundraiser for Marie Curie, added: “We are incredibly grateful to Sandra, Ian, their team of family and friends, and everyone who has supported the fayres over the past 10 years. Raising £36,000 is a wonderful achievement and has made a real difference to the families we support across Lincolnshire.

“It was an honour to collect this final fayre donation and thank them for everything they have done. While the event is coming to an end, Sandra and Ian will always be part of the Marie Curie family.”