Last updated at 20:13, Thursday, 26 April 2012

A West Cumbria charity has turned a typo into a triumph.

Hospice at Home West Cumbria was dismayed to find a typographical mistake on its T-shirts for this year’s fund-raising Midnight Walk, but quickly turned around the problem to try and bring out the creative side of those women due to take part.

The event’s main sponsor is Hunday Manor Country House Hotel, near Workington, but the 1,200 t-shirts that were printed are missing the Y from the hotel’s name.

Gillian Johnston, community fund-raiser, said: “I came up with the idea of turning a negative into a positive and we will be offering prizes for the most creative Y and the jazziest T-shirt.

“It will give our ladies the opportunity to be as creative as possible to make the 25th anniversary t-shirts extra special.”

The women-only six mile walk will take place on Friday, June 29, starting from Workington’s Tesco store.

It is the charity’s biggest annual fund-raising event and has raised around £300,000 over the last three years.

Staff at the hospice fund-raising office decided to get the ball rolling with their own competition for the best decorated t-shirts.

Wendy Blackburn, volunteer co-ordinator, won first prize with her creation which included glittery stars in bright colours and a Y created from blue diamantes.

She spent a couple of hours decorating her t-shirt while watching the London Marathon for inspiration.

She said: “You can never be too sparkly and it will make the ladies doing the walk look even more fabulous.”

Workington hair salon Principles, of Finkle Street, has donated a pair of gold GHD hair straighteners and a cut and colour for the hospice to offer for prizes for the best t-shirts on the night.

Hospice at Home West Cumbria, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, provides home nursing and support services to patients, carers and families across West Cumbria and all the money raised stays in the area. It needs to raise about £500,000 a year to keep its services going.

Midnight Walk Entry forms can be found at the hospice fund-raising office in Cumberland House, Oxford Street, Workington, in any of the hospice’s charity shops, or in the Times & Star office at 23 Oxford Street.

Entries can be made online at www.hospiceathomewestcumbria.org.uk

First published at 19:19, Thursday, 26 April 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk