Northumberland farmers wives support 78 charities through two decades of fundraising
A group of farmers wives from the Morpeth area have been quietly raising thousands of pounds for local charities for around 20 years.
Known as the ‘Nutty Natters’, the women meet up weekly and each put a small donation in a pot. Once £100 is raised, the funds are then donated to a good cause .
The group was originally formed around 20 years ago when a couple of the ladies were diagnosed with breast cancer. To show their support, the friends came together to organise two big charity lunches, raising an incredible £40,000.
Since then, the ‘Nutty Natters’ have raised a further £11,500 through their coffee mornings and supported a total of 78 charities including the RNLI, Northumbria Blood Bikes, the People’s Kitchen, among many others.
Group member, Ann Redpath said: “We have all been friends for so many years and we have all been fortunate so we want to give back as much as we possibly can.
“We always try to give to local charities so we can hopefully see some good come of it. The responses we have had have been amazing, we have had the most lovely letters.”
Ann described how the fundraising initiatives have also helped the ladies to maintain their close bond over the years.
She added: "The friendship and the social aspect of it is important, the rest has grown from that.
“So many of us have been affected by cancer and other things and that makes the friendship even stronger because we have supported each other so much.”