THREE charities have been chosen to receive the proceeds from the Tonbridge Daily calendar next year.
The beneficiaries are The Bridge Trust, the town’s homelessness charity, Chasing Connor’s Cure in Hildenborough – which is funding research for a rare disease – and the West Kent branch of mental health charity MIND.
The calendar, which is the brainchild of Tonbridge Daily blogger Suzannah Niklas, has become hugely successful since it was launched in 2016. Last year 960 copies of the calendar were sold, raising £6,750 for worthy causes.
It showcases photographic images of the town sent in by the public. This year’s submissions are now being welcomed – send them to tonbridgedailycalendar@gmail.com – and the closing date is July 31. For terms and conditions, visit Tonbridge Daily’s Facebook page.
Mrs Niklas has teamed up with Sam Goode, co-owner of Tonbridge Old Fire Station, for the first time to pick the recipients.
She told the Times: ‘The main aim in choosing the charities was that the calendar would help local causes and aid their promotion.
‘There were so many deserving and hard-working local charities to choose from, it was extremely hard to make the decision.
‘Sam and I chose them after readers sent in their nominations to Tonbridge Daily. Chasing Connor’s Cure received an enormous amount.’
The charity was set up by Matthew and Emma Crawford to find a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy after their son Connor was diagnosed with it at the age of four.
The condition affects around 2,500 people in the UK, usually boys. It attacks the muscles and in most cases mobility is lost by the age of 10 and can lead to an early death.
‘What can we say about the guys at Chasing Connor’s Cure?’ said Mrs Niklas. ‘Their fundraising and energy is infectious. We wanted to help chase that cure for little local boy Connor.’
She added: ‘We saw a freezing cold winter and a rise in homeless-ness through lack of housing.
‘After seeing so many people on the street without shelter during this time it struck a chord with us. We wanted to help a charity who help local people get back on their feet again.’
MIND was chosen because ‘mental health problems are unseen and the rise is worrying. The Tonbridge Centre in St Mary’s Road is in need of funding to keep community services, counselling and The Solace Cafe running. It will be good to know the calendar will be supporting those in crisis’.
A panel of six judges will decide on the final 12 images in August and the calendar will be launched at the Old Fire Station in September.
PICTURE: SUPPORT NETWORK: (Back row, l-r) Sam Goode of the Old Fire Station and Tonbridge Daily’s Suzannah Niklas; (front) John Handley of The Bridge Trust, Emma Crawford of Chasing Connor’s Cure, Lucy Adams of West Kent MIND
