Havant mayor to 'turn the borough pink' in first fundraiser for Hannah's Holiday Home Appeal
A MAYOR is hoping to ‘turn the borough pink’ as he is set to hold his first fundraiser for a children’s cancer charity.
Mayor of Havant Prad Bains will be supporting Hannah’s Holiday Home Appeal during his mayoral year, a local charity which provides free holidays to families of children with cancer started by Pam Marshall in memory of her daughter.
With fundraising taking a hit due to the pandemic, Cllr Bains has had to think creatively for his first charitable event, Think Pink week.
Cllr Bains wrote to each of the school in the borough to encourage them to put on a pink-themed non-school uniform day between September 14 to 18 to raise funds and awareness for Hannah’s Holiday Home Appeal, which is close to his heart as he attended school with Hannah.
He said: ‘They’re the sole charity I’m raising money for in this mayoral year. It’s a lot harder to raise money and awareness for the charity but we’re trying to do everything we can to think outside the box.
‘We’re really turning the borough pink. It’s really positive because not only will it reach the students at school but they’ll go home and tell their parents about it.
‘Through the coronavirus pandemic we have seen communities really pull together and this is another example of people working together to achieve a certain aim.’
The mayor’s fundraising plans for the rest of his term include football matches, quiz nights and a cricket game, if these are safe to organise.
Pam was over the moon when she was approached by Cllr Bains to find out he had chosen to support her charity.
She said: ‘We were astounded when he first got in contact with us. It will really support us and bring in some vital funds and really involve the community with all the events he’s organising.
‘Prad visited one of the families during their stay at one of our New Forest homes to have a look around and learn just what difference a memory making break away meant to the family.
‘Prad is a very community minded young man and I think his age and attitude will have a wonderful impact on the younger generations.’