Market forces give Help for Heroes fundraiser a boost

A HUGE 15,000 has been raised for charity Help for Heroes through fundraising efforts at markets across Sheffield.

Lorraine Kirkham, a member of patrol staff at the city’s Castle Market, has been setting up stall at markets across the city for the past two-and-a-half months.

She said: “My son is ex-forces and I just wanted to do something to help. I went to the Help for Heroes website, set myself up as a registered charity and started selling wristbands, badges and other memorabilia.

“Then the traders offered me products to sell and before I knew it, it just snowballed. I’ve had a great reception from traders and the public.”

After she raised 7,500 through the tabletop sales, Sheffield’s National Market Traders Federation decided to match this figure, raising the total to 15,000.

However, this won’t be the final total, as the sales are set to continue. Mick Cull, secretary of the National Market Traders, said: “Lorraine has done amazingly well and has worked really hard to raise this money.

“We wanted to show how much we support the work she’s been doing and this is a topic close to all of our hearts.

“The traders felt it would be a fitting gesture to double the cash that Lorraine has raised. We’ve all watched her working tirelessly for this great cause, topping up the donation was the least we could do.”

Coun Paul Scriven, leader of Sheffield Council, added: “This week of all weeks is a very painful time for the people of Sheffield after the tragic death of 21-year-old Liam Riley in Afghanistan.

“Lorraine is a true local hero. The passion and warm heartedness of Sheffield people never fails to impress me. The people of Sheffield will always go that extra mile to help people less fortunate than themselves and Lorraine’s work is a real testament to that.”