Organisers 'blown away' by record-breaking £20k raised at Your Harrogate Stray Bonfire and Fireworks
The organisers of this year’s Stray Bonfire in Harrogate say they have been “absolutely blown away” by the community’s generosity after the annual event raised a record-breaking £20,000.
A key community event, this year’s Your Harrogate Stray Bonfire and Fireworks attracted thousands of people to the Stray for an evening of live entertainment, food stalls and a large-scale fireworks display.
The £20k total is the most raised at Harrogate's annual bonfire event since it began in the early 1970s.
Harrogate Roundtable, the bonfire’s organisers, say the event’s success not only reflects the generosity of local people but also the wider benefits it brings to the community.
Fraser Dunlop of Harrogate Roundtable said: I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the people of Harrogate and to all of our incredible sponsors Your Harrogate radio for making this year’s Stray Bonfire the most successful and truly record-breaking event in our 50-plus years of organising it.
"The generosity and spirit shown by our town has been remarkable and we couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved together."
"We’ve been absolutely blown away by the community’s generosity, which has enabled us to raise an outstanding £10,000 for Martin House, along with vital funds for The Scouts.
"This exceptional total not only helps us support two fantastic causes but also allows us to reinvest back into the Stray Bonfire itself ensuring we can continue hosting this cherished community event safely, sustainably, and successfully for years to come.”
Adam Daniel, Managing Director of Your Harrogate, said: “We are incredibly proud to be the headline sponsor of such a special community event and to support the brilliant work that goes into it.
“Harrogate Roundtable put in an extraordinary amount of time and effort to organise the bonfire and they deserve huge credit for bringing the whole town together.
“To see that hard work result in a record-breaking fundraising total is fantastic.
"We’re delighted that £10,000 will be going directly to Martin House, a charity which provides specialist care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.
“It was also great to see the Scouts benefit.”