AS THE Sitting with Jane trail nears its end, a group of mums is looking to keep one of the BookBenches in Basingstoke.

The NorthHantsMum group is looking to crowdfund enough money to bid on one of the Sitting with Jane BookBenches when they are auctioned on Friday, September 15.

If successful, the plan is to place the bench in either War Memorial Park or Eastrop Park as a safe place where mums can meet other mums and children can meet other children.

NorthHantsMum founder Louise said the original plan for a bench for a safe place for mums to meet has been bubbling along for more than a year.

Louise said: “Unfortunately life got in the way a bit and things didn’t pan out, but with the Sitting with Jane project it had a lot of mums talking.

“I’ll admit at first I didn’t really get it, but I quickly saw children become so enamoured with them, and they have brought so many families together so thought it would be great to have one of these benches as our meeting point.”

The group aims to raise £5,000 in order to bid for one of the BookBenches, and Louise said even if they are unsuccessful they plan to donate the money to the Ark Cancer Centre Charity anyway.

Mark Jones, director of fundraising and communications at Ark Cancer Centre Charity, said: “This is a great idea by NorthHantsMums, and Ark is grateful to Louise for starting up the crowdfunding campaign to tryto raise enough money to keep a BookBench in Basingstoke.

“The charity hopes that each of the BookBenches will raise several thousand pounds for the campaign to raise £5m for the new cancer treatment centre.

It would be great if the crowdfunding drive managed to raise enough money to put in a strong bid for one of the wonderful BookBenches, and it is great news that whatever is raised by the crowdfunding effort, the money will be coming to the Ark fundraising appeal.”

Louise added: “I think everyone bidding has their eye on a certain bench, but I would just be happy for us to get one we can keep in the town and tell our kids when they are older, we did that.”

To donate to the crowdfunding campaign, visit justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/louise-northhantsmum.

Tickets for the auction on September 15 cost £10. For more information, visit arkcancercharity.org.uk/fundraising/sitting-jane.