Granny Joan's balloon challenge

95-year-old Exmouth gran's fundraiser

Whippersnapper Joan Crodwen's taking a leaf out of Captain Tom Moore's fundraising book.

The 95 year-old, known as Granny Joan, is taking on the 2.6 challenge on Sunday, which should have been London Marathon day, in aid of Hospiscare.  As the marathon can’t go ahead as planned, people across the UK are instead taking on activities based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 to raise money in support of their chosen cause.

It isn’t the first time that Granny Joan has done her bit for the community. At the outbreak of the second world war, 17 year-old Joan left home to join the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and was soon helping the war effort by working as a flight mechanic. Part of her role was to move barrage balloons around the airfield to deter enemy aircraft and ensure the safety of Spitfires. 

With the unseen enemy facing our country today, Granny Joan is just as willing to do her bit.  As an homage to her airforce duties, Granny Joan will move 26 balloons 26 times from one end of her garden to the other.

Granny Joan explains, “You never know when you or your family might need Hospiscare. I am taking on this challenge to help them care for others when and where it’s needed.”
Sarah Smith, Joan’s granddaughter, who works for Hospice says: “Gran is a quiet person and not one for the limelight, but she’s also very determined. Once she has set herself a goal, she will do everything she can to achieve it so we know she’ll succeed with this challenge. We are so proud of gran; she has seen the comfort and care that Hospiscare provides and is determined to do her bit to help the charity navigate these difficult times.”

Hospiscare relies upon the generosity of the local community to provide its services. With its charity shops closed and its fundraising events cancelled, its finances are drastically impacted. 

To support Granny Joan’s 2.6 challenge visit her JustGiving page at https://bit.ly/2VwpM2Y - or to take on your own 2.6 challenge for Hospiscare visit www.hospiscare.co.uk/ 26challenge.