Help Peter raise vital charity funds – it won’t cost you a penny!

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Mar 20, 2013

A committed fundraiser has launched a new charity appeal that he wants to be his biggest and best yet, but he needs the stamp of approval from the people of Darlington to make it a success.

Peter Longstaff, who is a resident at Care UK’s Ventress Hall care home, has been raising money for charities for more than 20 years and has now set his sights on generating vital funds for the Great North Air Ambulance Service, and has appealed for people across Darlington to support him.

Mr Longstaff, 69, has begun collecting used stamps, which can be used to raise money for the life-saving service, based in Newton Aycliffe.

Mr Longstaff, who served for 28 years in the Royal Navy, once gathered together a collection of used stamps that weighed 163 kilo, and said he would love to break that record.

“I have raised money for a number of charities including Mind, PDSA and Guide Dogs for the Blind by collecting stamps.

“I used to work in the Railway Pensions scheme’s post room and they are kindly providing me with their stamps, as are the Teachers’ Pensions scheme team. I have also had tremendous support from my children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren across the country, as well as from the parish office and congregation at St Augustine’s Church.

“The Air Ambulance team provide such a wonderful, life-saving service to everyone across our region and I would be delighted if we could collect a significant number of stamps to help them with their work.”

All the team at Ventress Hall, in Trinity Road, are collecting stamps from their post and Care UK’s homes across the North East are also supporting Mr Longstaff.

Ventress Hall Home Manager Judy Wray said: “Peter is a wonderful man. He is full of concern for his fellow residents and he likes to stay active. Every morning he is up with the lark, delivering newspapers and the post to the rooms.

“He is very passionate about raising money for the Air Ambulance and we want to support him as much as possible. Everyone we know is now collecting stamps, including our sister homes across the region.

“We have put a stamp collection box in reception and I would ask anyone in Darlington to cut off the used stamps from their post and pop them in to us at Ventress Hall.”

Mandy Drake, Deputy Director at the Great North Air Ambulance Service, said: “We don’t get Government funding, so rely on good souls like Peter to raise the £4m we need every year to survive. We would like to thank him and everyone else involved in his latest fundraising effort.”