GENEROUS donations from customers at Rugby Farmers Mart (RFM) have raised over £9,000 to support a much-loved team member who is being treated for cancer.
RFM customers and staff rallied around when Head Clerk Sophie Mockler received the devastating diagnosis of stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma earlier this year.
They organised a charity auction to raise funds to support Sophie in her recovery and help others going through a similar experience.
At the auction, sheep farmer and RFM customer John Elkington kindly donated a young ewe which, after passing through the hands of many bidders, raised over £9,020 which will be donated to Cancer Research UK.
RFM customers and staff have raised over £9,000 for Cancer Research UK to support Head Clerk Sophie Mockler.
RFM company secretary Richard Ellis said: “Sophie has been a member of our team for 12 years, so, naturally, we want to help in any way we can.
“The support has been incredible and the whole team at RFM is touched by the generous donations towards helping Sophie in her recovery, especially John Elkington.”
Currently three-quarters of her way through 12 rounds of chemotherapy, Sophie’s recovery has improved and she is now responding well to the treatment.
With Cancer Research UK nurses supporting Sophie in her recovery at Stratford Hospital, she has chosen to give the money raised to the charity, and is hoping it will be used to further fund the ward at Stratford.
Richard added: “It’s great to see Sophie’s recent improved response to treatment, which we very much hope will continue.
“There’s already enthusiasm to raise more money at the next breeding sheep sale, with sheep already donated.”
At the beginning of August, RFM also raised over £3,200 in memory of late colleague and customer Pete Smith from Bitteswell. The Jarrom family kindly donated a lamb to raise money for two defibrillators, one of which will be installed at the Market at Stoneleigh Park, and the other at Bitteswell Cricket Club, which is located on Pete’s farm.
RFM staff member Dianne Morris plans to add to this fund in memory of Pete and her son Harvey, who passed away at the age of 18 after a heart attack.
Situated at the National Agricultural Centre in Stoneleigh Park, RFM was founded in 2006 by a group of 250 local farmers to replace the now closed Rugby Cattle Market.
The next fund-raising breeding sheep sale takes place on Friday August 26.
