Organisers of the Marmalade Festival at Dalemain handed over more than £20,000 to a local charity – despite this years event being cancelled due to COVID-19.
The event normally takes place in March, but concerns about coronavirus forced organisers to cancel.
But they presented Hospice at Home Carlisle & North Lakeland with £20,278.50 today.
Lady Elizabeth Leeming, president of Hospice at Home Carlisle & North Lakeland, says: ‘2020 will stand out in all our memories as an exceptionally difficult year.
“However, there have been beacons of light. With great local support, Hospice at Home Carlisle & North Lakeland has been able to continue providing palliative care in our community.
“The charity has been the main beneficiary of marmalade entry fees since Jane Hasell-McCosh founded the Marmalade Awards in 2005, and to receive this cheque today is to once again benefit from what has become a local, national and international phenomenon.”
The competition element of the event went ahead as judging had already taken place, under the dedicated eye of WI preserve judge Doreen Cameron and volunteers.
All proceeds from the Homemade Awards go to Hospice at Home.
Lady Elizabeth Leeming added: “These funds will directly benefit local families and their carers. It is an honour that the charity has also been chosen to benefit from the 2021 awards.
“On behalf of all at Hospice at Home Carlisle & North Lakeland I’d like to express our heartfelt thanks to those who make the Marmalade Awards possible, for their generosity, loyalty and sheer hard work, and to all who enter the competition.’
Entrants could also choose to nominate their local hospice, bringing the total raised for palliative care by the 2020 Marmalade Awards to a fantastic £21,552.50.
Awards founder Jane Hasell-McCosh says: ‘Raising funds for hospice work has always been at the heart of the Marmalade Awards, and I am so pleased that we have been able to support them during this difficult year, when they have done such incredible work in such difficult circumstances.
“It is all down to the hard work of our volunteers, with Joy Pemberton-Pigott at the helm. We have been determined to continue fundraising in 2021 and I am delighted to announce that the 2021 competition is now open.
“We are inspired by our entrants’ enthusiasm and dedication, and we hope to receive record entries!’
The deadline for entries for the 2021 Awards is Wednesday 10th February.
Winners will be notified shortly after this date, and the awards will be announced on Saturday 13th March.
The festival will not take place in March 2021, but organisers hope to extend the marmalade celebrations, with festivities taking place in June.
The awards take place with the support of Fortnum & Mason, Rathbones, Armstrong Watson, Thursday Cottage and Lycetts.
