Anything to help charity (From Croydon Guardian)

Anything to help charity

12:46pm Wednesday 21st September 2005 in

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Jumping from a platform hundreds of feet in the air or walking on the wing of a plane, no task is too daunting for Danny Foley.

The landlord of the Selhurst Arms in South Norwood has come up with various ideas to raise money for the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton.

He was inspired to help the hospital after his friend Ann died of cancer in 1999. In July Danny's older brother David also lost his fight against the disease.

Danny, 42, and his wife Michelle, picked the Royal Marsden Hospital to donate money to as that was where his brother and friend were treated.

"We got talking to the staff at the Royal Marsden Hospital," Danny said, "and the patient care was good but there are certain luxuries you want when you have cancer."

Improving patient care by providing nicer surroundings and better facilities is the main goal of their fundraising. Some of the money is given to the Macmillan nurses who work at the hospital in an attempt to make travel easier and more affordable for them. The couple along with regulars from their pub have raised more than £50,000 since 1999.

Last year they raised £24,000 for the hospital and are hoping to break that record this year. A sponsored bungee jump, held in the pub's grounds over the August bank holiday weekend, was a success and Danny has vowed to shed the pounds so that he can complete a sponsored wing-walk in aid of the hospital.

"So far it's in the region of £9,500, but we are planning a charity football match, auctions and sponsored wing-walking later in the year," Danny added.

Although it is Danny who has been nominated for the Champions Charity Volunteer of the Year award he says he couldn't do it without Michelle or their friends from the pub. "A friend of mine recently found out his mother had cancer who also happens to be a good friend. We all come together and help each other out in the pub.

"Unfortunately someone else will probably walk into the pub next week, telling us a family member has just found out they have got cancer too."