Charity begins at home for the managers of one Lacock pub, who are well on track to raise £50,000 for the Bath RUH’s Forever Friends Appeal.

Alan and Heather Sheppard set out to raise £10,000 in 2010 to mark their 10nth anniversary in charge of The Bell at Lacock, but after recruiting family and friends they soon surpassed their target, reaching an impressive £40,000.

Now they are looking to raise an extra £10,000 to become one of the appeal’s ‘Principal Community Partners'.

Mr Sheppard said: “We are absolutely delighted with the amount raised. We have been completely bowled over by the enormous support received from our customers, friends, staff and suppliers who have given so generously of their time and money. We really can’t thank them enough.”

The pair have already organised a sponsored 100-mile trek of the Cotswold Way, a family fete and beer festival, and the ‘Bell Ball’ at Chippenham Neeld Hall, which raised over £9,000 through a charity auction.

Their next event will be a Christmas Fair at the pub on December 15, where a carol choir will perform and Father Christmas will be in his grotto. Gift and craft stalls will be on display, while mulled wines, roasted chestnuts and a Christmas barbecue will also be on offer.

If the pub reaches it’s £50,000 target it will receive a formal acknowledgement in the hospital’s new Cancer Centre, and Tim Hobbs from The Forever Friends Appeal said: “We are extremely proud to have The Bell at Lacock as our first Senior Community Partners for the Campaign.

“We are really hopeful for them to become ‘Principal Community Partners’ as they deserve a significant, lasting acknowledgement within the new Cancer Centre which will be seen by generations to come.

“Their hard work and efforts have been appreciated by the staff here at the RUH, patients and everyone here at the Appeal.”

For more information on any of the pub’s events call Alan and Heather on 01249 730308.