A POPULAR farming couple have raised more than £1,000 for charity at their double 80th birthday celebration.
Friends and family dug deep when they attended Peter and Gladys Stubbs’ landmark birthday event at Eggleston’s Moorcock Inn on Saturday, August 7, to offer donations in lieu of birthday gifts.
As a result, the couple’s chosen charity – the Teesdale branch of Cancer UK – is £1,100 richer.
Mr Stubbs said: “It all went really well.
“We had a right good night and everyone enjoyed themselves.
“The money we raised is a step in the right direction and they [Cancer Research] were over the moon – delighted.”
Mrs Stubbs said: “You need cancer research – you need all charities really – but you can’t support all of them.”
Charity branch members Brenda Thwaites and Sue Birdsall were on hand at the party to collect the cash.
Mrs Stubbs said: “That was important so people could see where the money was going and how important it is.”
Branch treasurer Susan Warnes sent the couple a personal thank-you card in recognition of their fundraising drive.
She wrote: “We send you our heartfelt thanks for the wonderful donation given in honour of your 80th birthday celebrations.
“The amount was £1,100 which is truly amazing and shows what a well-respected couple you are.
“This money will be used to help cancer research up in Newcastle as our committee always wanted the monies raised here in Teesdale to stay locally.”
Mr and Mrs Stubbs, who were founder members of Teesdale and Weardale Farmwatch, undertook a similar charity drive for their 70th birthdays, raising more than £1,000 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service.
Of turning 80, Mrs Stubbs said: “In your mind you are no different, but in body it is different – jobs just take you longer.
“The doctor said just do what you normally do but just do it a bit more slowly.”
The couple thanked everyone who attended their celebration and contributed so generously to the cause.
