One Middlestown resident has smashed her five-year fundraising goal, raising over £23,500 for Wakefield Hospice in memory of her mum. China Milner began fundraising for Wakefield Hospice in 2018, after the passing of her mum, Geraldine, from breast cancer at just 45 years old. Geraldine was cared for at Wakefield Hospice for the last six weeks of her life, and China subsequently set the ambitious goal of raising £18,000 over the next five years, a total which she has now smashed. China said: “My mum was inspirational. Even with a terminal diagnosis, she lived life to the full. As the time came to say goodbye, our entire family were welcomed at the hospice, they looked after all of us, as much as mum - the people at the hospice were just amazing and have offered so much support since mum’s death. “I worked out the amount that it cost just for my mum to be in a bed at the hospice for the 6 weeks that she was there. The total came to just below £18,000, just for the bed alone, never mind that staff, medicines, machines etc. So, I set my goal to raise £18,000 for the hospice in the next 5 years. It will be 5 years on the 5th May 2023 and we have smashed it!” China has thrown herself into a variety of fundraising challenges and initiatives over the past five years, from raffles and endurance challenges through to hosting events and a charity ball – raising an incredible £23,687.67. Helen Knowles, Director of Income Generation at Wakefield Hospice said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to witness first-hand China’s incredible fundraising efforts in memory of her late mum Geraldine. “From such a young age, China has been relentless in raising funds for Wakefield Hospice, and to not just have achieved her £18,000 target, but to have raised more than £5,000 above her initial goal is a momentous achievement. “I am so proud of China and the journey she has been on over the past five years, her selfless actions in trying so hard to raise funds for our cause which is so close to her heart – from all at Wakefield Hospice we say thank you for your fundraising, thank you for your passionate support, and thank you for your incredible advocacy.” On a closing note, China adds: “My fundraising isn’t going to end there and no doubt I will be arranging future events and activities soon. I’d just like to say thank you so much to everyone who has supported me with all of my events.” To find out more about fundraising for Wakefield Hospice, please visit www.wakefieldhospice.org or call 01924 331401.