Church folk turning hat-happy for charity

STAFF across the Diocese of Sheffield are planning events in Rotherham and the Dearne Valley tomorrow to raise money for the charity Brain Tumour Research.

The main event will be Wear A Hat Day where everyone will be encouraged to don daft hats for a small donation.

People taking part will be asked to take a “selfie” for a collage of silliness.

Activities at Diocesan Church House in Effingham Street, Rotherham, include a cake sale, the selling of pens, badges and bracelets, a raffle and a game of Pin the Mitre on the Bishop .

Individual churches are also joining in with their own activities.

St Andrew's, Brinsworth will also be open all day tomorrow for a coffee morning in hats (10am to noon), a Healing Service (12.30pm to 1.30pm), the Madhatter’s Tea Party (2pm to 4pm) and a Hat Extravaganza (6.30pm to 8.30pm) with homemade hats’ parades.

Everyone is welcome.

Staff at the diocese are raising money in support of the daughter of two close colleagues who was diagnosed with a brain tumour in March 2011.

After diagnosis, Anna Marshall went through her first operation on the tumour on March 28 that year.

The official Wear A Hat Day falls on the same date in 2014, making it even more significant.

Since initial diagnosis, Anna has successfully battled one recurrence of the disease and is now battling it once again.

It is hoped that as much money as possible will be raised to go towards Anna's target of £2,740.

This amount will sponsor a day's research into the causes and treatment of brain tumours.

Anna’s JustGiving page has been set up by her parents Helen and David and can be accessed at: http://www.justgiving.com/davidbent99.

The congregation at St Peter’s Church in Warmsworth is also supporting another brain tumour sufferer, Alan Needham, by hosting an all-star brass band concert tomorrow at 7.30 pm.

See http://www.justgiving.com/Alan-Needham for details.