A popular music event in Worcestershire has come runner up in this year’s UK Festival Awards.
Woo Fest, returned to The Drum and Monkey pub, near Upton-upon-Severn, for the third year running in July and raised over £10,000 for St Richard’s Hospice.
The popular event was shortlisted in the final six for the best small festival of 2017 in the national awards.
Over 450 festival goers enjoyed the family friendly event in 2017 which featured bands and musicians across two stages. The festival included a flypast from a World War II Lancaster Bomber and a surprise appearance from the Red Arrows. Next year’s Woo Fest will take place on Saturday, 7th July.
Siblings, Luke and Ria Simons started the festival in memory of their late father, John Simons who was a local engineer. He was cared for at St Richard’s Hospice before he died in 2013, aged 66. Luke and Ria organise and run the festival along with a committee of family and friends and 100% of the proceeds are donated to the hospice as sponsors, volunteers, bands and technicians kindly provide their time and equipment for free.
Luke Simons said: “Thanks to all our supporters for getting us to the finals of the UK Festival Awards. We didn’t win but just being nominated was good enough to help us continue our work while keeping the ethos of Woo Fest alive.
“Every single penny we make goes to St Richard’s Hospice to support them in providing an amazing service to our community. The award recognition gives us another opportunity to celebrate what has become a great fundraising event while appreciating that we are just a tiny representation of why Woo Fest has become a success.”
Alice Brunt, Fundraiser at St. Richard’s Hospice, said: “We are so delighted for Luke, Ria and the team: they work incredibly hard every year to make Woo Fest the successful, fun and friendly event that it is, and it’s wonderful to have it recognised nationally. Their support enables us to continue providing care at St Richard’s Hospice, and we are so grateful to every single person involved at every level. “
St Richard’s Hospice provides free specialist palliative care for patients living with life-limiting illnesses and supports their loved ones. Each year the hospice team supports more than 3,000 patients, family members and bereaved in Worcestershire.
The hospice strives to provide the best medical, practical, emotional and social support they can to help people live life to the fullest, as independently as they can, for as long as they can.
St Richard’s is an independent charity and is grateful for all donations to help it continue its work.