IT MAY be a fortnight until Easter but an Athersley South couple have already raffled off over 600 Easter eggs to raise money for charity.
June and Andrew Self and their daughters Shaney and Kelly have raised thousands of pounds for MacMillan Cancer Support mainly through a Christmas motorbike procession which has become a real tradition in the area.
During lockdown, the couple wanted to bring some festive fun to local children and decided to get on their motorbike, dressed in Santa outfits, and drive through the streets.
The couple, of Chatsworth Road, appealed to fellow bikers to join them to go round the streets of Athersley North and South to spread some Christmas cheer.
June said: “That year, kids couldn’t go to see Santa and we decided to do this. I put a message out asking any bikers who were up for putting some fairylights on their bikes and getting dressed up to go round the streets to meet us on Laithes Lane at a certain time. Between 60 and 70 bikers turned up and people lined the streets to watch us pass by.
“The following year we did the same but decided to ask for donations for charity and this past Christmas, we raised £3,045 for Macmillan Cancer Support.”
This year over 100 bikers took part and June also organised raffles on Facebook with Andrew, and his daughter getting dressed up as Santa and an elf to make personal visits to children on Christmas Eve to raise extra funds.
“I lost my sister to cancer and Andrew lost his dad and it is amazing the support Macmillan offers and we will continue to raise money for them.”
Not content with their amazing festive fundraising achievements, June has spent the last few weeks organising Easter egg raffles to raise even more money for the charity.
“I appealed for Easter egg donations and people have been dropping off Easter eggs and we also a box for donations in our local Spar. The raffles have been really popular.”
The family has been nominated for a Proud of Barnsley award in the Charity Fundraising Team of the Year category.
