A nine-year-old girl from Loughton is undertaking a month-long baking fundraiser in memory of her beloved nanny Susie to raise funds for the hospice who cared for her.
Lottie and her mother, Keeley Rayner, began the baking fundraiser for St Clare Hospice, in Hastingwood, when her grandmother Sue Rayner was admitted to the hospice.
Sue sadly later died on Tuesday, November 24, but Lottie has decided to continue baking and fundraising up until December 24.
Lottie is baking gingerbread angel biscuits and managed to raise £900 in less than 48 hours. Her new target is to raise £2,000 by Christmas Eve – enough to fund more than 130 counselling sessions for a bereaved child or young person.
Keeley said: “Lottie spoke with her Nanny the day before she passed away to proudly tell her that she had managed to raise over £900 for St Clare. Sue was so proud of Lottie, and what she was doing for the hospice. Sadly Sue passed away the next day, but Lottie immediately decided she wanted to keep baking and fundraising for St Clare – in honour of her nanny.”
Lottie with her Nanny Sue Rayner, mum Keeley Rayner and sister Bridgette.
“Lottie said on the day Sue died – ‘the more angels we make, the more there will be to look after Nanny in heaven’. I also feel that it is a positive way for my daughters and I to channel our grief, and to do something special to raise money and help other patients like my mother in law, Sue.”
“Lottie’s nanny, our lovely Sue, came to the end of her brutal battle with cancer and sadly passed away. She was loved by so many, our hearts are broken and we will take time to grieve – but these cookie angels will give us all a reason to keep going in Sue’s memory. So please feel free to give generously, eat those gingerbreads greedily, and help us grow from this sad time.”
She added: “Sue was such a passionate, determined person, and she was so strong right until the end. Our family was caring for Sue at home until she deteriorated rapidly in November; that was when we called St Clare.”
Lottie, helped by her younger sister Bridgette, is baking cookies and fundraising for St Clare Hospice.
You can donate to her fundraiser here: https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8uxTe7sj17
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