A FUNDRAISING campaign to bring a 200 year old Cumbrian shop and post office into community ownership has raised over a quarter of a million pounds - with its committee saying there is still a 'mountain to climb' in achieving their goal.
Following an appeal launched in June to find shareholders willing to invest in the community asset the group have raised over £300,000 of the half a million pound target, but say there is still 'a mountain to climb'.
Donations have been given from far and wide - including some buying shares from as far as America, Germany and Australia.
At the recent Heskett Show many visited the groups stand pledging to buy shares in the shop.
Philippa Groves from the Hesket Newmarket Community Shop steering group said: "We have raised a fantastic amount of money for the share offer which is absolutely marvellous, we have got lots of things in the pipeline but we have still got a mountain to climb.
"We are desperately hoping the government will re-open the Community Ownership Fund because that's really the best fit for community initiatives."
The group have a lot of fundraising events coming up as well as another public meeting on October,15 in which the group will welcome all of their new members.
Speaking about the community, Phillipa said: "The solid support from the community has really buoyed everybody up, and it just proves how much the shop and post office is valued and how desperate we are not to lose it."
King Charles visited the shop in his capacity as the Prince of Wales back in 2004 and 2007- even taking a special liking to and purchasing the John Peel slice when he found out it contained rum butter.
Phillipa said: "Obviously the King loves this area, we have had tremendous support from people like the Lord Lieutenant and the High Sherriff and Lord Inglewood, Chris Bonnington people like that.
"As well as all the local churches, the WI groups, the mothers unions, the people that use the post office- we all need the shop."
To find out more about the Hesket Newmarket Community shop campaign you can visit the website: hesketnewmarket-communityshop.co.uk
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