A Pontefract boutique has raised an impressive £4,479 for The Prince of Wales Hospice since 2016, with £2,055 coming from a recent Spring Fashion Show.
The boutique has long supported the hospice, and its recent fundraising efforts have been driven to new heights by its new owner, Penny, who took over the business in September 2024. Penny, a retired teacher, had previously supported the boutique and its fundraising events alongside the shop’s founder, Sue. When she became the owner, she decided to continue that tradition.
“Since becoming a local business owner, I understand more than ever how important it is to shop local and support the community. Everybody knows somebody who has received hospice care, so it feels right to support The Prince of Wales Hospice where we can,” Penny said.
The Spring Fashion Show, held at The Northern Social (who donated their venue for free), raised £2,055 from ticket sales, a raffle, and an auction. Local businesses rallied around the event by donating raffle prizes, including a hamper of alcohol from The Robin Hood pub, which raised £200 in the auction.
“The Robin Hood pub donated a hamper of alcohol, which we decided to auction off, and raised £200. Every business we approached for a raffle prize said absolutely,” Penny said.
She also highlighted the strong sense of community that helped make the event a success. “There was such a strong sense of community from everyone involved. Local charity supporters Ruth Cain and her partner Allen Haywood helped run the evening, while Michelle Grainger and a fantastic team of volunteers took charge of the raffle and kept everything running smoothly. It truly was a team effort. I’m so grateful to my incredible team at Suzi’s Boutique, too; this wouldn’t have been possible without their hard work and enthusiasm. From planning to styling and everything in between, they made the event what it was,” Penny said.
Beyond fundraising events, the boutique supports the hospice all year round. “We legally have to charge for carrier bags, so instead we ask for a donation to the Hospice. Our customers are incredibly generous and often give more than the cost of the bag because they know where it’s going,” Penny said.
“It feels amazing to know we’ve raised over £4,400. We’re already planning our next event. We could have sold 100 more tickets, so next time we’ll need a bigger venue!” she added.
Adrian Greenwood, Fundraising Manager at The Prince of Wales Hospice, said, “We’re incredibly thankful to Penny and everyone at Suzi’s Boutique for their continued dedication and generosity. The success of the Spring Fashion Show is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when local businesses and communities come together to support the Hospice. The money raised at the Spring Fashion Show will cover the care of one patient for 5 days.”
For more information or to find out how you can support The Prince of Wales Hospice, visit www.pwh.org.uk.
