An Eastcote resident has put up an enormous snowman outside his house to spread Christmas joy and to raise funds for charity.
Following the success of his Christmas display last year, Ian Parkinson, who has lived in the Eastcote area for over 30 years, decided to create an even bigger display to encourage visitors to donate to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Snowy the Giant Snowman is 20ft tall and has been erected outside Parkinson’s house, Field Close Farm, where he encourages families to get in the Christmas spirit by visiting and taking pictures with Snowy.
He said: “We put up the snowman because last year we did a giant teddy which was so well received.
“We just had a fabulous time having our garden filled with families and hearing children laugh that we decided to do it again this year.
“I don’t know where they all come from because Eastcote is not the biggest area in the world."
So far this year hundreds of families have visited the snowman, and Parkinson has high hopes that Snowy will raise more than last year’s decorations.
He said: “Last year we raised £2,700. We got £18 on the first day, so we thought that’s okay, then £68 on the second day and then on Christmas Day we got £2000!
"But he only went up on the 20th last year so we hope to raise far more this year as we are already past £1500.”
Parkinson praised visitors for their support and hopes to make his giant decorations an annual tradition.
He said: “That’s it, we’ve got the bug. So have local people, they have taken it and Great Ormond Street to their hearts.
“Lots of people put up decorations but I think what has really connected with people is that we have said you can come and take a selfie beside it, you can interact with it.
“We have had to adjust this year, so we put up signs promoting 'hands face and space' along with hand sanitiser and a one-way system operating so that there’s plenty of space for people to visit safely.”
Parkinson’s Christmas Teddy decoration from 2019 can be visited on Ealing Green where there has been such an uptake in footfall that it too will be joining the fundraising effort as visitors are encouraged to donate to Great Ormond Street.
Although Parkinson does not have any direct connection to the charity, he said: “When it comes to Christmas it just struck us that the future of all of us is children.
“Christmas is a time when we concentrate on family and think about the children so it just felt like the right charity to be supporting at this time of year.
“Last year there were so many stories of mums and dads explaining to their children that the money was going to Great Ormond Street and how they help sick children so we said okay we have to do it again.”
Snowy the Giant Snowman can be visited at Field End Farm, on 86 Field End Road, HA5 2QG until late January and Christmas Teddy is currently sat on Ealing Green.
To donate click here.
Featured image credit: Hamant Verma. Inserted image credit: Ian Parkinson
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