For the four Sundays of Advent this year, Chris, Hinckley ACROSS Group’s chef, with the support of his team of volunteer helpers, including students from St. Martin’s Catholic Academy, has been cooking four course lunches in aid of Hinckley ACROSS Group. People pay £20.00 per head for a delicious home-cooked, four course meal that includes canapes and mulled wine, starters, roast turkey main meal, sweet, mince pies and tea/coffee. The money raised from this venture supports paying for people with disabilities, who cannot travel via plane, to visit Lourdes, France, on pilgrimage. The cost of a week’s pilgrimage, including full board in a three star hotel, transport on a jumbulance, and excursions while in Lourdes, costs around £850.00 per person. Needless to say, this is beyond the reach of some people, so Hinckley ACROSS Group, led by Ian Coe, does a lot of fundraising during the year to support the venture, helping subsidise people’s costs, where needed. Last year, for the first time, Chris’s idea of the Advent lunches was ‘born’! This particular fundraising effort raised a staggering £1,200.00 and some Advent lunch attendees decided, as well as paying their £20.00 a head for the lunch, to sponsor an individual to travel to Lourdes! People’s generosity is amazing! This year, Ian had the idea of inviting students from St. Martin’s to volunteer their help as waiters and waitresses! Everyone attending the meals so far have commented on the politeness of St. Martin’s students and their capabilities as waiting on staff! Well done to all of the team and good luck for the final Sunday this weekend!
