Cottam's Tipping family raise over £25,000 for Lancashire charities with annual Christmas lights spectacle

In December, for the ninth year running, Mark and Nicola Tipping turned their home in Valentines Meadow into a winter wonderland to raise money for children's charities.

Ablaze with lights and glowing with Christmas cheer, the family's home has become a must-see festive spectacle for families across Lancashire.

Year on year, the Tippings have smashed their charity fundraising target, with donations growing from £2,000 in 2011 to £14,000 in 2019.

With 2020 proving a difficult year for many families, Mark and Nicola expected that donations might not come in as thick and fast as previous years.

But the couple said they were in awe of the generosity of those who made the trip to their home to see the lights and lend their support in the run-up to Christmas.

This time around, the Tippings - with support from the 'Let’s Make Cottam Sparkle’ campaign - have not only broken their previous fundraising records, but have doubled last year's total by raising a whopping £26,000.

It means the Tippings have now raised a total of £107,596 for charity, with this year's proceeds helping Derian House Children's Hospice, brain injury charity Headway Preston and Chorley, Rosemere Cancer Foundation (Chris Rand Fan Club) and Jordan Grant 18 (Cardiac Risk in the Young).

Mark, on behalf of his family, said: "We would like to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to every single person who made a donation and supported us in any way.

"Every penny people put in our garden wishing well collection bucket goes to the charities and every donation will help bring some comfort and hope to those children and their families who need it most.

"And finally, a big thank you to all of our neighbours for your patience and understanding with traffic and parking issues.

"We hope you all have a safe and happy year and look forward to seeing you all again in December."

Dan Hill, chief officer of Rosemere Cancer Foundation, said: "I would like to add my sincere thanks to the Tipping family, Samantha and everyone in Cottam, who worked to make the village so special at Christmas, and anyone who visited and donated.

"The generosity and kindness of people never ceases to amaze me."

Headway Preston and Chorley said the Tipping family's efforts this year had brought much-needed "colour and sparkle" in a difficult year for many families.

The charity's Chair, Sarah Charnley, said: "I am so delighted that the Tipping’s Christmas lights have again included Headway Preston & Chorley to benefit from their spectacular Christmas display.

"The efforts that they go to each year are truly phenomenal. I think this year more than most we all appreciated more colour and sparkle.

"Our charity is so thankful for the abundant generosity of Mark and Nicola, their family and helpers to put on such a magnificent show and the local community for their donations.

"These funds will help us to continue our work assisting brain injury and major trauma survivors and their families within Preston. Thank you so much."

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