THOUSANDS of pounds was raised for charity following the return of a successful music festival in Upton-upon-Severn.
Held at The Drum and Monkey pub, the popular Woo Fest returned with a bang as hundreds of people enjoyed the event on Newbridge Green where more than £8,000 was raised for St Richard’s Hospice which provides free specialist palliative care for patients living with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families.
A variety of live music from bands including The GTs, The White Feather Collective, The Flames, The Fidgets, The Festival Experience and many more were on show at this year’s event.
Guests to the festival also enjoyed a hog roast and bbq, kids’ play area with bouncy castle, arts and crafts, and other family activities.
Children were also delighted when a Minion – a character from the popular film animation Despicable Me – paid a visit to dance along with the crowds and help with fundraising.
The triumph follows on from the inaugural Woo Fest last year which raised more than £6,000 for St Richard’s Hospice.
Woo Festival was set up by Luke Simons and his sister Ria in memory of their father, John Simons, who was cared for the hospice before he died in 2013 aged 66.
Luke, along with his family, friends and colleagues, has in previous years completed a number of fund-raising challenges for St Richard’s Hospice including the 3 Peaks Challenge, Hadrian’s Wall and, in 2014, a ‘Source to Sauce’ challenge to walk, cycle and canoe 130 miles from the source of the River Severn to Worcester.
Mr Simons said: “It was a fantastic day and the feedback we had from bands, volunteers and customers was all brilliant. We were absolutely delighted to raise over £8,000 for St Richard’s Hospice, beating last year’s fundraising by £2,000.
“I’d like to thank everyone involved in making the event such a success, not least all the volunteers who worked so tirelessly and Cookie Jan’s food van who cooked all day for our customers for free.
“Our aim has always been to make this a 100 per cent profit festival, so that the whole of the ticket price would go to St Richard’s.
“We’re delighted that we were able to raise such an amazing amount of money to help St Richard’s continue to care for patients at the end of their lives.”
