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Charities benefit to tune of £10,000 thanks to sister papers' team effort

Three Hertfordshire weekly newspapers have helped raise £10,000 for local hospices.

The Comet, the Welwyn & Hatfield Times and the Herts Advertiser joined forces to host the Hertfordshire Business Awards at which the cash was raised.

Diners raised £3,839 on the night of the event, which the paper’ owners Archant then made up to £4,500.

The awards ceremony’s compère, Coronation Street star Bradley Walsh, added £500 to the total before it was doubled by local businessman Paul O’Flanagan who made a personal donation of £5,000.

The cash will be divided between Garden House Hospice in Letchworth Garden City, Isabel Hospice in Welwyn Garden City and Grove House, a day care centre for people with life threatening illnesses in St Albans.

Comet editor Darren Isted said this was the first time the three sister papers had joined forces for the event.

He said: “This event has been going for nine years and we’ve always had a substantial amount raised but it was by far the most this year.

“With three newspapers being involved we thought we might raise an extra grand, but this has been much better and the hospices are obviously very appreciative.”

The Comet is currently half way through a two-year campaign to raise £100,000 for the Garden House Hospice. More than £50,000 has so far been collected.


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