THE former Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane has praised local people for helping her raise more than £19,000 for charities during her year in office.

Cllr Onnalee Cubitt, who was the borough’s mayor during 2021/22, has announced that a total of £19,118 was raised for her Mayor’s Charity Appeal.

The charities she chose to receive the money are The Community Furniture Project and St Michael’s Hospice.

Following direct donations of £4,050 to the charities, both organisations will each receive £7,534.

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Some of the popular mayoral events which helped to boost the fundraising appeal included the Basingstoke Variety Show in October, the Mayor’s Charity Concert in March, with the performance of The Pirates of Penzance by the Basingstoke Amateur Operatic Society in its centenary year, and the Hampshire Hog Auction.

Cllr Onnalee Cubitt said: “I am delighted that through the fantastic generosity of local people who have supported my fundraising events, I have raised such a large amount for my two chosen charities for my mayoral year.

“My Consort Hugo Cubitt DL and I have enjoyed meeting so many people during the past year and have attended many amazing events.

“I’ve have been raising money for St Michael’s Hospice since the early 1990s, and The Community Furniture Project is a simply amazing charity that does so much for local residents.”

The Community Furniture Project is a furniture reuse charity and has been operating in Basingstoke since October 2004. It collects unwanted furniture, appliances, bicycles and household goods. The project repairs, restores and recycles them and passes them on to local people at low cost.

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Meanwhile, St Michael’s Hospice in North Hampshire enables anyone faced with a life-limiting illness, their families and carers, to attain the highest possible quality of life by providing a choice of specialist care and support.

It was established in 1991 by a committee led by former mayor, Margaret Weston.

Over 25 years later and caring for over 500 patients a year across the community, St. Michael’s leads the provision of the highest quality palliative care throughout North Hampshire.

To find out more about the mayor and this year’s charities, please visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk/mayor.