Generous couple's £30,000 boost to Mayor's fundraising

The cash from selfless Anne Pearce (73) will be split between the three good causes - Guide Dogs for the Blind, the National Autistic Society and the the Alzheimer’s Society - when the mayoral year ends.

Anne and husband Brian (79) previously made headlines for setting up a £30,000 fund at the British Heart Foundation and giving £5,000 towards a defibrillator project.

Anne, of Moorgate, said: “When I come to the end of my life, I don’t want to be sitting here with a fortnight to go, wishing I had done more.

“I have some rotten days, but while I’m not very, very poorly, I want to help people.”

Anne said she had taken a first donation to the Town Hall a couple of weeks ago, followed by a second at Monday’s open day, hosted by the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Lyndsay Pitchley.

“I don’t look for pomp and ceremony, I do it from the heart,” said Anne.

“I took the first one and just left it at the Town Hall.

“When I got home, there was a message waiting for us from the mayor to say thank you. 

“It had us in tears, listening to it.”

Anne and Brian, who also has cancer, helped the Rotherham Libraries defibrillator project reach its cash target last autumn and set up their BHF Gift of Hope fund in January.

She also keeps busy by knitting hats and blankets for children at Rotherham Hospital and made hampers for the mayor’s Easter charity raffle.

Anne said: “I like to keep active or I think I would go mad.

“Unfortunately, this tumour I’ve got is terminal. I don’t have a date but I want to see charities benefit rather than wait until it’s too late.

“We had a look at our finances. We’ve got the house we own and we have a little bit of money spare.

“I love to help people. I love the feeling you get from it and seeing the look on people’s faces.

“There’s so many people and so many things that you can help. 

“That’s the way I feel, giving money to different people rather than to one person.”

As well as thanking the Pearces, Cllr Pitchley paid tribute to everyone who made this week’s open day a success.

She added: “Thank you to my mum and Joanne Atkin for running the stall for my raffle, the catering staff for an excellent service as always, the Town Hall attendants Dean, Tony, Damion and Tracey, and our amazing behind-the-scenes team.”