A Cottam family known for their fundraising efforts have unveiled the final figure from their 2021 Christmas lights display.
The Tippings, Mark, Nicola and sons Sam, 16, Joe, 15, and 12-year-old Isaac, collected £16,431.25 for charity from residents who visited their Valentines Meadow home to marvel at the display.
The amount raised will be split equally between Rosemere Cancer Foundation, Derian House Children’s Hospice, Headway Central Lancashire and the Jordan Grant 18 Memorial Fund (CRY – Cardiac Risk in the Young).
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Mark said: “We would like to thank everyone who supported our lights display by donating online or via our garden wishing well and everyone who gave at the parade.
“We are immensely proud as a family to have been able to support the work of four great local charities through our Christmas displays since 2011 and this last two years, our involvement in the Cottam Christmas parade.
“We long hope to continue the tradition, which we know has come to mean a lot to many people locally.”
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Mark and his family were presented with a British Citizenship Award at the House of Lords in 2016 for charity fundraising after receiving a Point of Light award at Downing Street the year before.
The display was boosted by a bucket collection, with spectators arriving for the village’s second annual Santa parade on the Sunday before Christmas Day.
It passed the Tippings’ house to Cottam Community Hall and was organised by Mark and the Cottam Community Association.
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Over a decade of fundraising for the four charities, the family has raised £123,921.15.
Dan Hill, chief officer of Rosemere Cancer Foundation, said: “The amount of money for ourselves and the other three good causes that Mark and his family have raised over the last ten years is staggering.
“He has become Cottam’s Mr Christmas and is certainly Santa to us.
“The amount of work involved in putting up lights and creating displays is immense but much appreciated by ourselves and the many families for whom Christmas wouldn’t now be Christmas without their annual pilgrimage to the Tippings’ house.”
For more information on Rosemere, visit – www.rosemere.org.uk
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