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George Barnard in front of his home in Church Fenton
You don’t have to go to the North Pole to see polar bears this Christmas. Just drive through Church Fenton and you won’t be able to miss the amazing illuminations on a very special home.
For the last 16 years, Linda and George Barnard of Northfield Terrace have decorated their house with an array of Christmas lights and asked the community to make donations to a chosen charity when they stop to admire them. This year, they've chosen to support Macmillan because the lives of many people in the village have been affected by cancer in the last year.
The couple invited the local representative from Macmillan, Clara White, along to do the honours of turning on the lights.
Clara says: 'It was a pleasure to turn on these amazing lights. We're so delighted that they've chosen to support Macmillan this year. Macmillan nurses are there for people living with cancer every step of the way: giving vital medical, practical and emotional support from the day of their diagnosis and right through their treatment. Last year our nurses reached over 430,000 people, but our services are stretched and we can’t currently reach the growing number of people living with cancer. That's why the support of people like Linda and George is so important. Every penny they collect from their Christmas lights will make a massive difference.'
It takes George a long time to put up and wire all the lights but he says it's worth all the hard work just to see the smiles on the faces of the children as they walk past on the way home from school. Everyone in the village pesters him throughout November asking when they will be switched on as it means that Christmas has arrived! Among the lights, you can spot a family of polar bears, the nativity and a horse and cart.
If you'd like to support Macmillan this Christmas, contact Clara White on 07809 554 960 or email cwhite@macmillan.org.uk|