Rotherham Hospice group to be boosted by Advertiser's artistic Christmas card

The bereavement support group — set up in 2011 and part of Rotherham Hospice — helps children cope with loss.

It will benefit from our Christmas card, which has been designed by Wickersley artist Les Black (pictured) and features a festive view of Rotherham Minster.

The Advertiser and Les selected Sunbeams from a bumper field of suggestions from readers, with more than ten good causes put forward across the suggestions.

And Les (87) said: “I think it’s wonderful that there’s been so much interest. What we are doing here is something worthwhile, in my old age, to help bring people together.

“People have been asking about the cards already after seeing them in the Advertiser. I've had lots of compliments.”

Les has sold cards based on many of his 3,028 paintings done since the early 60s, some for charitable causes as distant as clean water campaigns in India.

“I talk to everyone,” said Les. “I went to my local card shop in Wickersley and said I was going to the show and they said to let them know how I got on.

“When I told them, I said: ‘Let me sell one to you, then I can be the only man in Rotherham who's sold a card to a card shop!’”

Cath Todd, who runs the Sunbeams group, said: “I am so grateful that the people of Rotherham suggested Sunbeams as the charity for this year’s card.

“I cannot express how much this means to the service, which relies on charitable donations in order to offer the much needed bereavement support to the children of Rotherham who are grieving the loss of a significant loved one.”

q Look out for more details in the Advertiser soon on when and where the cards will be available.