Old Nene Golf and Country Club smashes fundraising goal with £2,794 for Dreamdrops in 2024!
Christine Luckham accepting a cheque donation from the Old Nene Golf and Country Club.
At the Old Nene Golf and Country Club, a cherished tradition is for the club’s Captains to select a charity they wish to support during their tenure. Over the years, this initiative has raised significant funds for a variety of deserving causes, including dementia, prostate cancer, and breast cancer, to name a few.
Throughout the year, the club holds “special days” dedicated to fundraising for specific charities. Members participate in golf competitions, donate for the chance to win raffle prizes, and engage in various activities, all in the name of charity.
Ladies Captain, Jacquie Richardson said: “Gary Hastie and I decided to choose a children’s charity for 2024. After receiving the suggestion from a lady golfer and I began researching local children’s charities. I was particularly drawn to Dreamdrops, a charity with a bright, welcoming logo and a focus on supporting children and their families during challenging times. The fact that Dreamdrops is a local charity, ensuring that funds raised stayed within the community, made it an ideal choice.”
Throughout the year, the club rallied behind Dreamdrops with an array of fundraising activities. Collection tins were placed at the club’s bar, and members were encouraged to donate spare change or notes. They creatively raised funds by organising challenges, like fining members for light-hearted reasons, to encourage donations. The club hosted various competitions, with entry fees going directly to Dreamdrops, and members generously donated their 2’s pot winnings to the charity.
The culmination of the year’s fundraising efforts came with a major charity day, which raised an impressive £1,876. In total, the club has raised an outstanding £2,794 to support the work of Dreamdrops.
Christine Luckham, Chairman of Dreamdrops said: “We are deeply grateful to the members of the Old Nene Golf and Country Club for their outstanding generosity and support. The funds raised will make a tremendous difference, particularly as we launch our new Dreamdrops children’s choir this year. This contribution will have a lasting impact on the children and families we support.”
What a Thrilling Year 2024 was for Dreamdrops!
2024 was an extraordinary year for Dreamdrops, filled with moments that made us smile, events that brought people together, and projects that made a real difference in the lives of children and families in our community. Here’s a whirlwind tour of some of the highlights of 2024!
Kicking off the Year with Confidence
The year started strong with our Collins Club coffee mornings. These monthly meetups have been a lifeline for many parents, especially mums who’ve found confidence and connection in our relaxed new venue at Nutcutt’s Brampton. It’s incredible to see how the shift from a clinical setting to a warm, welcoming space has transformed the group dynamics. While we can’t always solve every family’s challenges, we’re here to listen, support, and guide.
Fun and Fundraising in February
What’s better than a quiz night? A quiz night that raises over £1,000! Thanks to everyone who attended and made it such a fantastic evening. A special shoutout to Wiltshire Digital Drive for their generous donation of laptops to Riverside Meadows Academy – true community spirit in action.
Springing Into Action
March and April were all about preparation: collecting beautiful knitting donations and planning a heartfelt thank-you reception for our incredible fundraisers. Behind the scenes, we were also busy supporting local schools with much-needed SEND equipment: Spring Common, St John’s, Samuel Pepys, Riverside Meadows St Neots as well as the Cornwall Academy Huntingdon – the impact of this project is immense and ongoing.
Mayor’s Support and Major Milestones
May brought exciting news – Dreamdrops was chosen as one of the Mayor of Huntingdon’s charities for the year! From a thrilling community race day at Brampton to winning the Outstanding Impact on the Community Award 2023, it’s been an honour to have the Cllr Karl Brockett’s support. Thank you, Huntingdon Racecourse and the @JockeyClub, for making the day so memorable.
Summertime Highlights
June we were chosen as Elmtree Court Huntingdon, charity of the year, and we also showcased our work at the Pinpoint conference. Then came July, the highlight of our fishing season, where children and families enjoyed incredible experiences thanks to the Fly-Fishing Academy’s unwavering support.
Autumn Adventures
August was all about sunshine and smiles supporting the Mayor of Huntingdon at the Ramsey 1940s Day, a delightful community event we can’t wait to revisit. In October, we hosted a special reception at Huntingdon Town Hall to honour our supporters. Two children proudly received their Fly-Fishing Gold awards, and Dreamdrops received a generous laptop donation from the mayor – a night to remember! The Old Nene Golf Club chose Dreamdrops as their charity of the year.
Festive Cheer
As the year wound down, we dove into Christmas festivities. November’s Tropic Skincare event was a relaxing evening to kick off the holiday season, and the mayor’s gala dinner was a night of fun and fundraising.
December brought magical moments for children and families. Our annual Christmas party for the Collins Club children, complete with a visit from Santa who also took the time to visit children at the Barley Mow in Hartford.
A cinema screening of Paddington in Peru was a hit. Rachael Stalker, our new music therapist, wowed everyone with her songs and revealed exciting plans for a children’s choir launching this month!
We also joined forces with local businesses Dunelm and Tesco, whose incredible generosity allowed us to distribute over 1,000 gifts. Due to their generosity this year we have been able to help deliver 300 gifts to the community nursing team to children continuing their care at home.
Gifts were also delivered to vulnerable families via the Huntingdon Community Project, maternity services at Hinchingbrooke Hospital for babies born at Christmas, the Angels Foundation supporting families affected by domestic abuse, the Women’s Refuge in St Neots, and children staying in Hinchingbrooke Hospital over Christmas, including SCBU and the Children’s A&E department.
Thank You for an incredible year!
2024 has been packed with heartwarming achievements and joyous celebrations. We couldn’t have done it without our dedicated committee, volunteers, and the amazing community that supports us every step of the way.
Here’s to another year of making dreams come true in 2025! 🎉
Tropic Skincare Donation
Tropic Skincare kindly donated £110 to Dreamdrops.
We are so grateful for this support, which will go a long way in helping us launch our next exciting project: the Dreamdrops Children’s Choir.
Launching this January, the choir is designed to bring joy and creativity to children with neurodiversity, those with complex needs, and their amazing siblings who often act as young carers.
Mayor of Huntingdon Hinchingbrooke Hospital visit
In a heartwarming display of community spirit, the Mayor of Huntingdon, Cllr Karl Brockett, and his wife Julie, the Mayoress of Huntingdon, brought festive cheer to the children’s ward, the Special Care Baby Unit and A&E at Hinchingbrooke Hospital over the Christmas period.
With the holiday season in full swing, the couple made a special visit to brighten the days of the young patients staying at the hospital. Thanks to the generous support of Dreamdrops, a wonderful selection of toys was gifted to the children, ensuring that those unable to be at home for Christmas could still experience the magic of the season. The visit was a touching reminder of the spirit of giving, spreading joy to local children and their families.
Hartford Village Hall Christmas Fundraising
Hartford Village Hall held a Christmas Fair raising £319.16 for Dreamdrops, the committee then doubled the donation making a grand total of £638.32, which is just amazing!
A huge thank you to all those involved the money raised will go towards our new Dreamdrops Children’s Choir which will is launching this month.
Pictured: Deputy Mayor Karl Brocket and Christine Luckham, Dreamdrops Chairman
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