St Clare HospiceFundraisingLottie’s baking fundraiser for Nanny Susie

Lottie’s baking fundraiser for Nanny Susie

Published on: Thursday 03 Dec 2020 at 11:29

9 year old Lottie seeks to raise thousands for St Clare

Donate to Lottie’s fundraiser here

A 9 year old girl from Loughton, Lottie Rayner, is undertaking a month-long baking fundraiser in memory of her beloved Nanny Susie to raise funds for the local Hospice who cared for her.

Lottie with her mum Keeley, Nanny Sue and sister Bridgette

Lottie and her mother, Keeley Rayner, began the baking fundraiser for St Clare Hospice, in Hastingwood, when her grandmother Sue Rayner was admitted to the Hospice’s Inpatient Unit. Sue sadly later died on Tuesday 24^th November, but Lottie has decided to continue baking and fundraising up until 24^th December 2020.

Lottie is baking gingerbread angel biscuits and managed to raise £900 in less than 48 hours. Her new target is to raise £2,000 by Christmas Eve – enough to fund more than 130 counselling sessions for a bereaved child or young person.

Keeley said: “Lottie spoke with her Nanny the day before she passed away to proudly tell her that she had managed to raise over £900 for St Clare. Sue was so proud of Lottie, and what she was doing for the Hospice. Sadly Sue passed away the next day, but Lottie immediately decided she wanted to keep baking and fundraising for St Clare – in honour of her Nanny.”

“Lottie said on the day Sue died – ‘the more angels we make, the more there will be to look after Nanny in heaven’. I also feel that it is a positive way for my daughters and I to channel our grief, and to do something special to raise money and help other patients like my mother in law, Sue.”

“Lottie’s Nanny, our lovely Sue, came to the end of her brutal battle with cancer and sadly passed away. She was loved by so many, our hearts are broken and we will take time to grieve – but these cookie angels will give us all a reason to keep going in Sue’s memory. So please feel free to give generously, eat those gingerbreads greedily, and help us grow from this sad time.”

Commenting on the care St Clare Hospice provided, Keeley said: “Sue was such a passionate, determined person, and she was so strong right until the end. Our family was caring for Sue at home until she deteriorated rapidly in November; that was when we called St Clare.”

“A St Clare Clinical Nurse Specialist came out to visit Sue at home to make a plan for her care. The whole time, Sue was able to be in control of where and how she was cared for, and it was Sue’s choice to go in to the Hospice to be cared for at the end of her life. Although it was difficult because of COVID, and having to limit visitors, the Hospice was amazing because it meant that Sue was cared for with such dignity and her family and friends could spend precious time with her – not having to be her carers anymore, but just being with her.”