Customers and bar workers at The Woodman raised more than £1,000 in a night for a cause close to their hearts.
Barmaid Siobhan Rowlands’ 23-month-old daughter Lexi suffered severe brain damage during birth.
It means she cannot move her body and has left her with epilepsy, and among a variety of care and medication, she needs 24-hour round the clock monitoring - even when she is asleep.
“Shooting Star Chase Hospice is the only respite from care that we get as parents,” Siobhan said. “And Lexi loves going there. It is such a nice place it makes her really happy to be there.
“We were in hospital for six months, and we had to have all the training to be able to look after her before we came home.
“Without Shooting Star we would never get a break.”
Which is why when she heard about Shooting Star’s £1,000 challenge to pubs, she jumped at the chance to take part, and with the support of landlords Teresa Juniper and Chris Osborn, set up a race night at the pub in Breakspear Road, Ruislip.
“They were behind me all the way, they have been really supportive and put food on for everyone and it was such a good night, everyone was very generous,” Siobhan said.
The challenge asks local pubs to raise £1,000 in any way they like throughout the course of a year. Teresa and Chris were hoping to raise around £500 with the race night, which was sponsored by a number of local businesses and paid for in ticket sales by the pub’s loyal and generous punters.
The packed out race night actually raised double the amount the owners expected, pulling in an impressive £1325.56 for the charity.
“For a small pub it was a huge amount to raise and a brilliant night - all of our customers commented on what a great event it was,” Teresa said.
Shooting Star Chase volunteer Paula Eaton, who lives in Ickenham, said: “Every child that we look after at the hospice costs us £15,000 a year.
"About 50 families in Hillingdon use the hospice’s services or at-home care. So the money raised through fundraising events like this is invaluable.”
