A GROUP of charitable Cumbria sports enthusiasts have raised thousands of pounds for staff at a West Cumbria hospital.

Following a challenging period for staff at the ICU unit at West Cumberland Hospital during the pandemic, kind members of the Uppies and Downies group came together to organise the raising of more than £3,000 to thank those who have given so much.

Although a game of the famous Cumbria sport may have to wait for another year, enthusiasts were keen to make their impact felt and set up an online charity raffle fund.

This week, the Uppies and Downies team presented staff at West Cumberland Hospital with a cheque to mark the public’s gratitude.

Lynda Williams, councillor for Moorclose and Mossbay, told of her pride at the amount of community spirit that has been shown.

She said: “With the Uppies and Downies not going ahead, we also previously did an online raffle to raise money for the charity ball.

We started the process about four or five weeks ago and the tickets sold well. With not being able to physically sell the tickets and it all being online, it just shows that the spirit of community in our region is so strong.

“The Uppies and Downies players have these games for charity and in normal times we would have duck races and raffles with all that money going to our chosen charities.

This was to say thank you to the nurses and doctors at the hospital and to give them an opportunity to spent the money on something nice. They’ve given so much for us all during the past 18 months and we can’t thank them enough."

The councillor also outlined her happiness that the funds had been raised with help from people from across the region.

“As a councillor, I’m honestly chuffed to bits with it.

“I’m so proud that people have come together. It wasn’t just people from Workington, I might add. It was people from down the country as we have so many people who are part of the Uppies and Downies group.

“You could really see the unity that can be found in our region. From Workington, Maryport, Whitehaven, Carlisle, you name it — everyone came together to buy tickets.

“Put it this way — everyone who works at the ICU deserves every bit of thanks and help. We hope they can maybe have a party, buy themselves something nice, that sort of thing.”