A local fundraising family travelled to London to receive a surprise raffle prize from the Prime Minister. David Cameron presented Joanne Heywood with a signed bottle of House of Commons wine, to be used to raise funds for the When You Wish Upon A Star charity.
Joanne, fundraising manager for the Lincolnshire and Yorkshire regional office accepted the gift with her husband Nick and daughter Rebecca. Their involvement with the charity began 17 years ago when Rebecca, who herself has complex medical issues, raised funds.
The meeting with the Prime Minister was arranged by Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers, who after being approached for a signed bottle by Joanne, decided to aim higher and ask Mr Cameron if he could hand it over himself.
Martin said “I look a chance and contacted his office and said was there any chance of five minutes as they do such good work for charity – and we struck lucky. This was all arranged on Tuesday and the family didn’t find out about it until the morning of the visit”. Martin said they had been “overwhelmed.” The Prime Minister “asked about what they did and what Rebecca’s circumstances were exactly and having experience himself with a disabled child he could very easily relate to their problems” he said, adding they had all “thoroughly enjoyed it”.
Over the years the charity’s work has grown regionally to such an extent that on average at least one individual “Wish” per week is granted, as well taking around 100 children and their parents on the Lapland trip every year.