Friends aim to raise £10,000 in mask-making fundraiser for hospice

Two friends are on target to raise £10,000 in a mammoth mask-making fundraiser for Barnsley Hospice.

Janet Mellor, of Pilley, and Jocelyn Feetham, of Pogmoor, have made more than 1,800 masks since they started sewing in March and have already raised over £7,000. The pair have now decided they’d like to reach £10,000 and have made a new range of festive face coverings to reach that goal.

Janet said: “We started to make masks at the beginning of the first lockdown and set out to make £300 for the hospice, but sales have gone wild so we’ve now decided to set ourselves the new target of £10,000.”
 
Janet and Jocelyn are raising money in memory of their friend Teresa’s daughter, Jill Mullet, who received respite care at Barnsley Hospice while she waited for a double lung transplant. When Jill finally had a transplant, after seven years on the list, the lungs were sadly rejected and she passed away in April last year, aged 52. Janet said: “We are making the masks in Jill’s memory. She was fortunate to have spent some time at the hospice and was looked after with such care and dignity. Teresa can’t thank the hospice enough for taking care of her daughter.”

The pair bought textiles for the masks from Serendipity fabric shop in Birdwell and Oh Sew Sweet in Wombwell, as well as receiving donations of fabric remnants from family and friends.

Janet said: “We couldn’t have raised the amount we have without the support of family and friends including all those who’ve taken our masks to sell in their workplaces, shops and cafes.

Janet and Jocelyn’s masks are on sale at Tinker’s Café, the Well Chemist, Allotment Deli and health centre in Hoyland, Teapot Café and Sam’s hairdressers in GiIroyd, Pilley post office, Wortley golf club and, Penistone British Legion Club. 

They are priced £4 each and all profits go to charity. They have so far donated £6,000 to Barnsley Hospice and have also made a donation of £1,000 to this year’s poppy appeal.

Community fundraising manager at Barnsley Hospice Vicky Stead said: “It has just been amazing what Janet and Jocelyn have achieved this year. They brought us £1,000, then another £1,000, then another. We are incredibly grateful for their hard work and hope they sell all their Christmas range of masks too.”