Herefordshire pensioner Moira Starkey, famous for raising thousands of pounds for charity with her jam, impressed Sophie, Countess of Wessex, during her tour of the county last week with the news that she will cross the finishing line on London Marathon day at the age of 83.
Miss Starkey received a special handshake during the Countess’s visit to Breast Cancer Haven in Hereford on Wednesday, and the royal visitor suggested to the Journal that her story would make fascinating reading. The Haven fundraiser from Storridge has potted enough home-made jam to bring in more than £7,000 for the Haven, which offers information, emotional support and complementary therapies to help people through breast cancer.
Miss Starkey’s jam-making prompted a visit to Buckingham Palace several years ago where she met Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and now she has been telling the prince’s sister-on-law about her latest activities. “I can’t stand long enough to make much jam these days so someone worked out that I could cover the 26-mile distance of the London Marathon by going 2,000 times around Storridge village hall,” she told the Journal.
“I’ve already done 13 miles and by the time of the marathon on April 25 I shall be doing the last lap!” Villagers have promised the pensioner a special ‘wind down’ party after completing her feat.
Shirley Grosvenor has raised £10,000 for the Haven with variety evenings and Valentine nights. “The Haven is brilliant, and the back up they give is wonderful,” she said. Sisters Emma O’Boyle and Helen Powers raised £10,000 at a Much Marcle charity ball raising a total of £30,000. Rosemary Thomas from Richards Castle raised £2,000 at a promises auction.
“I was looking for a local charity to support, and Shirley Grosvenor told me about the Haven. It’s so nice to have a charity that is doing something locally.”
The Countess unveiled a plaque commemorating her visit to Haven in St Owen’s Street. The Countess, accompanied by Lord Lieutenant of Hereford Lady Darnley, chatted to scores of volunteers, fundraisers and staff including founder Sara Davenport.
Sophie explained how her involvement with the charity was rooted in the early planning stages. “I have known about Breast Cancer Haven at Hereford since its planning, and I have heard so much about it, so it’s good to put faces to names,” she said.
“It’s a real thrill to see it as I am completely wedded to Breast Cancer Haven, I always have been, and always will be.” She was a trustee of Breast Cancer Haven for many years and is president of its Guardians.