September 12 2013.


Driftwood garden has just closed it's gates for 2013 and finished the year with a bang! The final seven openings were for Artwave, the Lewes District Art Festival, where the venue had it's most successful result in five years of opening. An amazing 1045 visitors spent over £6000 on the art on show and helped raise over £1200 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Throughout the summer Driftwood garden has seen over 2800 visitors pass through the gate and has been selling raffle tickets for artist donated prizes as well, raising funds for Macmillan in addition to the garden trail Geoff Stonebanks organised back in August.

The results of these efforts, through the Driftwood Fundraising Group, set up and run by Geoff from Driftwood at 4 Marine Drive, Bishopstone, has meant that Macmillan Cancer Support has just received a cheque from him for £8900, for the monies raised this year alone. Total money for all charities raised through the garden over the past four years has been a staggering £31000!

Seen here, surrounded by visitors to the garden, including the two children, Robyn and Jimmy Thomas, is Rob Moon, Area Fundraising Manager for Macmillan Cancer Support, receiving the cheque from Geoff Stonebanks in his garden on the 8th of September, shortly after Rob had completed the draw for the fabulous raffle prizes.
 

Rob said after receiving the cheque: "Macmillan wants to make sure that no one in Sussex faces cancer alone, and we can only do so through the generous support of the public. I want to thank Geoff and everyone involved with the Driftwood Fundraising Group for their fantastic support. The money raised will go towards The Sussex Macmillan Cancer Support Centre Appeal."

Macmillan is working in partnership with local charity, The Sussex Cancer Fund, and Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, to build the centre and provide the service. The centre will be the first of its kind in Sussex to offer all-round support and information for people affected by cancer, in a calm, friendly and welcoming environment.

Geoff said: "It has been an exhausting summer with all the events in the garden, but none of it could have been achieved without the invaluable help and support of a small group of dedicated individuals, notably Mark Glassman, Richard Walsh, Celia Hughes, Diane Marquess and Clare Mayers to name but a few. Not to mention the visitors themselves for donating money.

"We're already planing 14 openings for 2014!"

Check out the 2014 opening schedule at: www.driftwoodbysea.co.uk