Pumpkin carving winner announced

An eight-year-old fundraiser has won a Hallowe'en pumpkin carving competition with a not so scary creation that wowed the Lord Mayor of Exeter.

Raising money for charity Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), the Southgate Mercure Exeter Hotel gave out pumpkins to guests, businesses, supporters of the charity and others.

Amongst the many entries Hannah Sparkes, who uses the charity’s Little Harbour Hospice, in St Austell, won the children’s competition with her striking creation, which featured a huge smile beneath purple, pink and white hair.

Hannah, from Exeter, fundraises for CHSW and other charities despite having a congenital heart condition. Last year she was named the Express and Echo Pride of Exeter Awards winner and Young Hero of the Year, having battled against a complex heart disease and undergone all manner of surgery.

Cllr Percy Prowse, the Lord Mayor of Exeter picked out the winning pumpkins, which also featured a ghoulish pumpkin carved by Toria Penfold, who claimed the honours in the adult competition. All the pumpkins were donated by Crealy Adventure Park.

Hannah won a Build a Bear prize, whilst Toria received £50 worth of high street shopping vouchers. The competition was part of activities organized by staff at the city centre hotel to raise money for CHSW.

Christelle Bonnel, Mercure Southgate sales and marketing administrator, said: “Well done to our winners and everyone who took part. We’ve raised £1,950 for Children’s Hospice South West and so thank you to all those who helped achieve that. We received all manner of amazing pumpkins, but Hannah’s and Toria’s definitely stood out.”

Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) is a charity which helps and supports children with life-limiting conditions, at its three hospices in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.