A husband and wife are bringing festive cheer to their neighbourhood whilst raising money to help find a cure for brain tumours.
Teresa and Jason Smith (pictured with their grandson Logan) have more than 20 sets of lights on display outside their home in Woburn Sands. Neighbours are invited to enjoy them whilst sipping on hot chocolate or mulled wine in exchange for donations to Brain Tumour Research.
The Christmas scene includes snowman, penguin and nutcracker inflatables, gingerbread people, Father Christmas, candy canes, toadstools, a Victorian lamp-post decorated with a red bow, a giant stag and other animals including hedgehogs, birds, a fox, dog and hare.
Their fundraising is inspired by Teresa’s older sister, Sue Hughes, whom Teresa says was like a “second mum”. Sue died in November 2015, just three weeks after being diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM). She was 55 years old.
Teresa, whose father-in-law is also now undergoing treatment for a brain tumour, said: “We’ve put on Christmas lights in Sue’s memory for the last six years. She adored penguins so we’ve got lots of them – that’s how it all started really.
“Our neighbours love it, especially the ones with children. We do it to raise money for the charity and usually get £150-£200, but I love the fact it’s so magical for youngsters. Sue was a childminder and looked after my children, so I know she’d approve.”
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