LOWTHER SHOW REFUNDS COULD HELP WOUNDED HEROES

Ticket holders being offered a refund after the cancellation of Sunday’s Lowther Show are being asked if they would donate the money to the event’s designated charity, Help for Heroes.

The charity which supports British servicemen and women who have been wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan had been expecting to receive a big cash boost from a collection on the showground on Sunday from up to 20,000 spectators.

But the final day had to be cancelled after heavy overnight rain fell on the already wet and muddy showground, forcing organisers to call it off because of bad weather for the first time in the event’s 35-year history.

Show chairman and director Robert Benson said: “It was a huge disappointment for everyone, including Help for Heroes, when we had to cancel Sunday’s programme.

“Thanks to the tremendous efforts of all our staff and volunteers, we had managed to stage two successful days on the Friday and Saturday despite the dreadful weather for August.

“However, Sunday’s cancellation meant that our designated charity, Help for Heroes, was denied the opportunity to gain some very welcome additional finance from a collection among what would have been a very healthy crowd.

“So we are asking people who had bought tickets in advance for Sunday if they would consider donating their refund to Help for Heroes rather than asking for their money back or for a ticket for next year’s corresponding day. Obviously we will respect whatever decision they choose to make.”

Ticketholders for Sunday will receive either a full refund of £15 or a replacement ticket for 2009 if they return their 2008 ticket in a stamped addressed envelope, stating their preferred option. However, they are now also being asked to state if they wish their refund to go to Help for Heroes

Major Tony Farrell, Help for Heroes’ Lowther Show fundraiser, said: “I think it is a wonderful idea for people to donate their refund to H4H.”

Cumbria-based Major Farrell, who clocked up 35 years’ service with the Kings Own Royal Border Regiment, added: “We collected several thousand pounds from spectators on the Saturday and I’d like to thank them for their support but obviously we missed out on the chance to collect any more money at all on the Sunday because of the cancellation. It would be great if we could make up some of that lost revenue, which runs into several thousand pounds, we had expected by people donating their refunds to the charity.”

H4H was set up last September by civilians to provide specialised rehabilitation facilities for servicemen and women who were injured in action in Iraq or Afghanistan. It is seeking to raise £6 million to create a fully-equipped gymnasium and swimming pool at a national centre.