WELL, the summer holidays, for most of us, seem to be in the long and distant past.

However, a good home in fundraising for any unwanted foreign coins and notes, stamps and postcards can be found.

Over this year alone, hospice funds have been boosted by £900 through the sale of these items.

With the advent of the Euro in January, in most EU countries, the existing currency will not be considered legal tender.

So, dig deep into your pockets, shuffle through your drawers amounts great or small will be most welcome.

As with most members of staff before the opening of the in-patient unit, I began volunteering at the hospice as a result of committing to raise funds by running the London Marathon in 1999.

The staff were very welcoming and I decided to put any spare time aside for the hospice.

I have now been employed in fundraising for nearly three years and have another London Marathon under my belt.

I will not be participating in next year's race, instead I will be trekking 77kms along some very difficult terrain on the Great Wall of China in June with 19 other walkers.

As a result of the sponsorship we all have to raise, the hospice will benefit from £50,000. Thank you to Jane Hornby, at UG Glass, for her help in raising over £3,000 since the summer.

Watch this space for future developments.

If you would like to sponsor me or the group, please ring the hospice on 01279 413590.

Thank you to Vera Morley for raising an invaluable £350 at her annual 'bun bash'. Despite the terrible weather she was well supported and most of her wares sold.

The Harlow Friends of St Clare held their autumn buffet-dance last Saturday.

The event was a great success with couples coming from as far afield as Hampshire and Oxfordshire.

The popular group Phase helped the festivities go with a swing.

A signed copy of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire book was raffled and helped boost the funds.

Phyl Crane would like to thank all involved and intends to hold a similar event next year.

A huge thank you to Pearson Education which held a family summer barbecue, attended by some 1,100 people. This event raised £763 for St Clare Hospice, which the company then matched. The hospice is most grateful that it was chosen to gain from a day when everyone had such a wonderful time.

The Puzzlethon on Saturday, November 3, has been postponed and will now take place early next year. For more detailsm ring Ann Gould on 01279 830886.

Help please! We would like to hold a chess tournament next year, but know very little about the game.

Are there any players out there willing to give us advice to hold both children and adult competitions?

Call in for a chat or contact any of the fundraising team on 01279 413590.

See you on Sunday, October 28, at Harlow Sportcentre athletics track for our 12-hour challenge, clocking up 120 miles between 9am and 9pm.

Enter any time during the day for £1 prizes each hour.

Be a part of this challenge and family fun day. Refreshments and entertainment will be available all day.

On behalf of everyone at St Clare Hospice, can I thank Jo Price for all the dedicated hard work she carried out during her six years here.

Jo has shown a great passion towards the work of the hospice movement and I am sure she will continue with her support in the future.

We all wish her well in her new career move to the Epping Forest Volunteer Bureau, raising volunteers not funds.

October 23, 2001 8:36