A woman from Swadlincote has crossed the finish line to raise over £2,500 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, after holding charity ‘race-night’ and raffle at a local pub and raising over £2,500 in memory of a friend.

Lorraine Herbert pulled out all the stops to arrange the night at The Foresters Arms in Swadlincote, the local pub to good friend Stacey Fusco, who sadly passed away last year at the age of 30. Much-loved Stacey was an oncology nurse at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and after she passed away, Lorraine and her friends at the pub wanted to do something special to help the young patients being treated there, who Stacey was so passionate about.

As well as enlisting the help of a friend to run the race night, Lorraine appealed online to local community groups for raffle prizes to help raise extra funds for the cause. From luxury toiletries and bottles of drink from individuals, to beauty treatments and haircuts from local businesses, Lorraine watched in awe as 100 prizes rolled in. One friend even donated a brand-new iPhone and the owners and landlords of the pub also gifted a bar tab for the raffle.

On the night, Stacey’s local was packed with family, friends and locals who all took part by placing their bets on pre-recorded race clips to raise as much as they could for her beloved hospital. Lorraine’s hard work had paid off, and she was over the moon to see just how much she’d raised.

Lorraine said: “Stacey was so loved by everyone in our local community and left a big hole when she passed, so I had no doubt that everyone would get behind the race-night and support the cause that was so close to Stacey’s heart. The evening ran without a hitch and while it was very emotional at times, it meant so much to everyone, especially Stacey’s mum, Sue, who played a big part in helping me arrange everything.”

Miranda Williams, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Stacey made an impact wherever she went and is truly missed by all of her colleagues at our hospital. We’re so grateful that Lorraine, Sue and all their friends and families could turn their grief into something so positive in Stacey’s memory.

“The incredible funds Lorraine helped to raise will go towards helping us do more for the brave patients on our oncology wards, who Stacey so wonderfully cared for.”