Eggs-tra special help for hospice

BARBER Patrick Scrivens who is collecting Cadbury Creme Eggs for Francis House Hospice which they put knitted chicks on and sell to raise money

AN OLDHAM barber has hatched a cracking idea to help out the region's poorly youngsters.

Cut above charity champion Patrick Scriven, from Town Barber Too, in Henshaw Street, is going to egg-ceptional lengths to gather as many Cadbury Creme Eggs as possible to raise money for Francis House Children's Hospice, which cares for children with terminal illnesses and their families.

Patrick is asking people to donate the Easter treats which he will take to the hospice in Didsbury where they will be given a chick makeover and sold for £1 in local schools and businesses.

Last year, the chocolate egg campaign raised nearly £28,000 for the hospice.

Patrick, who fundraises for several charities throughout the year, said: "It started when I saw a friend of mine was collecting them on Facebook.

"We've got 270 in the shop now. People just pop in to drop them off. I even have people handing them to me in the street.

"It's such a worthy cause I just want as many people to support it as possible."

The Chronicle is also going the eggs-tra mile to help Patrick. His pal, tele ads sale rep Angela Maude, is playing mother hen and asking staff to bring in Creme Eggs.

Patrick will be taking his clutch of Creme Eggs to Francis House on Saturday, and will be collecting them until the day before.

Francis House is also asking people to knit tiny colourful chick costumes for the eggs. Go to www.francishouse.org.uk/easter-knit-a-chick-appeal for more.