Elf Sparkle Cycle Day fundraiser in memory of former Santa Express driver

You may see some of our Ottery St Mary team members dressed as elves on the local roads around our garden centre this Friday!  A large group of our team members are rallying round with a seasonal fundraiser in memory of their colleague Rob Gillingham.

Sadly Rob, described by colleagues as a kind, lovely man, passed away from a brain tumour earlier this year. He was well known for his annual stint as the Santa Express driver, ferrying families to and from our popular grotto.

The idea for the fundraiser came from Helen Patterson, who has worked at the grotto as an elf! Helen also had a brain tumour which was removed in 2017, leaving her with a titanium plate in her skull and an eyelid that won’t open. Her plan is to cycle from Exeter to the garden centre in Ottery dressed as an elf to raise money for Brain Tumour Support and Alzheimer’s Society.

She says, “I was so disappointed not to be an elf this year that I thought this would be a great way to dress up and raise money at the same time!”

The Ottery team got on board by loaning Helen her elf costume from the grotto wardrobe. Then they started thinking about how they could help more.

Branch manager, John Giblin explains, “We realised we could join in with the fundraising for Brain Tumour Support in memory of our colleague Rob so we started encouraging staff members to get involved.

“We now have more than 40 signed up to cycle, walk or run to work dressed as elves. It’s a great way to use of our elf costumes to bring some festive cheer as we’re unable to run our grotto this year.”

Helen adds, “I’m thrilled that so many people from Otter are getting behind the charity – out of something sad has come something good.”

The event has been named ‘Elf Sparkle Cycle Day’ to reflect events being run by Brain Tumour Support and Alzheimer’s Society.

Volunteers from Brain Tumour Support will be with us in Ottery all day to raise money and encourage donations on the JustGiving page.

The team are hoping to raise over £1,000 for the charity!

To donate, visit the JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/otter-garden-centres

For more information about Brain Tumour Support visit https://www.braintumoursupport.co.uk/