A CHRISTMAS windfall of £7,000 has been handed to the team at Prospect Hospice by the manager of Blunsdon Market, from money raised by unsold car boot sale items left on a stall to support the charity.

The latest annual cash boost, the biggest raised so far since market manager Maurice Mapson rallied the support of traders for their local hospice, brings the total to more than £25,000 in the years since the stall was first set up. The money has been gratefully received by the fundraising team at the hospice in Wroughton.

Maurice is quick to credit the support of the market traders at Blunsdon in their fundraising drive for the charity.

“The Prospect stall relies on the help of the stallholders at the market, and they have been excellent again this year,” he said.

“We set a target of £5,000 this year, and we added a second stall just for furniture, and I think it’s made all the difference.”

The fundraising stall for Prospect Hospice is a great example of recycling too, with many of the items there attracting custom after having failed to sell at the market’s regular car-boot sales.

The sales are dependent on an honesty box, with most items expected to raise no more than 50p each.

“Many of the people that put into the box will put in more than they are expected to, but that’s got a lot to do with the popularity of Prospect Hospice in our community,” said Maurice.

“The people who support it know that the money raised will be going towards a good cause.”

Maurice and his friend Karl Reader, who also helps run the stall, visited Prospect Hospice last week to present the £7,000 they had raised during the year.

Prospect Hospice’s community fundraiser Amy Francombe said: “It is great to see Maurice and Karl back here again this year, and we are delighted that they have raised such a fantastic amount for us during 2013.

“Over the years Maurice and everyone at Blunsdon Market have done brilliantly with their fundraising for us, and their fundraising will make a real difference to patients and families cared for at Prospect Hospice this Christmas.

“On their behalf, I would like to say a big thank you to everyone at Blunsdon Market for their generous support in 2013.”