‘On your bike’ says garden centre

The charity team at Otter Nurseries has announced a fundraising total of just under £9,000 for 2014 charity of the year, emergency medical couriers Devon Freewheelers.

Marketing Manager Sabine Taylor said: “We were always hoping to raise enough to help buy the charity a new bike, and thanks to the amazing generosity of staff and customers, we are bang on target.

“Devon Freewheelers seems to be a charity close to the hearts of many people in this area, and everyone was prepared to dig deep for them.”

The total was raised through many different fundraising events across the year, including an indulgence evening, wheelbarrow raffles, staff quizzes, bake sales and bingo. Over £500 was raised via the popular Christmas Memory Tree, with customers purchasing a record-breaking number of ribbons to remember loved ones.

“The Otter Nurseries team really pulled out all the stops for us,” said Devon Freewheelers volunteer rider, Terry Hawkins.

“We can only continue our life saving work with donations like this, and every penny is greatly appreciated.”

The new bike, which will be used for trips across Devon and further, is to be kept at the charity’s East Devon headquarters in Honiton.

Devon Freewheelers provides a free out-of-hours service to every NHS hospital in Devon including the smaller community hospitals, delivering blood, breast milk and other urgent medical supplies.