THE Mayor of Swindon Maureen Penny attended a cheque presentation for one of her chosen charities in the council’s Mayoral Chamber yesterday.

The cheque for £300 was presented to Jessie May Children’s Hospice at Home by Highworth Festival chairman Jim Webster on her behalf.

The money was raised with the 16 events which made up last year’s festival.

Jessie May fundraiser for Swindon and Wiltshire Debbie Clark was full of gratitude.

She said: “It’s amazing, this money will provide a respite session for a whole family, it’s no mean feat.”

Mr Webster said: “The money was raised from tickets, brochures, raffles and charity buckets we passed around at the events.

“Local organisations helped us finance the cost of putting on the events so we could donate surplus funds to local causes.

“We also had some very generous support from Swindon Borough Council, Highworth Borough Council and the Freke Norton Charitable Trust.”

Mayor Penny said: “I’m really pleased, this is the first cheque I have personally got for one of my chosen charities and hopefully it’s the first of many.

“I’m working very hard with both charities to get their name in lights and help them be sustainable.”

Miss Clark added: “I’m very happy to get involved and help with anything I can.”

Jessie May provides hospice at home care for terminally ill children.

It was founded in Bristol 21 years ago and recently expanded to help families in Swindon and Wiltshire, with some support from Swindon-based children’s charity CALM.

Its team of dedicate nurses provide care and emotional support to children and families during the final months of a child’s life and helps them through the grieving process.

Mayor Penny will be presenting a cheque to Swindon Cares, the other chosen charity for her mayoral year, this afternoon.