Sisters said goodbye to sweets for a year and raised hundreds

Three sisters have said ‘no’ to sweets for a whole year as they raised hundreds of pounds in memory of their grandpa.

Having pledged not a single sweet would pass their lips throughout 2017 the efforts of Olivia, Emily and Bea Horton have raised £673.78 for the Hospice.

The charity supported the girls’ grandpa Charles Vokins, before his death in November 2016.

Although 12-year-old Olivia, Emily, 10, and Bea aged seven, live in Harpenden in Hertfordshire, they were determined to raise funds after their mum Charlie explained how the hospice had helped their grandpa.

After being inspired by a similar fundraising attempt by some friends, it was Olivia’s idea to forgo sugary treats, with her sisters willingly joining her.

Their mum Charlie Horton said: “I am so proud of them.

“Massively proud, when they first said they wanted to do it, I honestly didn’t think they would be able to give up sweets for a whole year. I am just blown away that they managed to do it, and by how generous everyone has been.

“My dad spent his final hours in the care of the incredible staff at St Nicholas Hospice Care. It’s hard to put into words how much of a difference it made to all of us.

“Dad was determined to die in his own home but unfortunately it just wasn’t possible. The hospice found him a place and the burden of care was suddenly and miraculously lifted so that we could spend our last few hours together peacefully.

“After dad died, I explained to the girls what the hospice was and how much they had helped their grandpa and they really wanted to do something to raise money and came up with this idea.”

The girls visited the hospice last Friday (16 February) to hand over the money, their efforts, which started on January 1, 2017, and finished on December 31, 2017, had raised.

Any sweets they were given at parties, events or during special occasions were politely declined – or carefully saved for the end of the challenge.

“I think it would have been harder if we hadn’t all done it. I think I might have got a bit stroppy. I still have some sweets left,” said Emily.

The girls even managed to stay strong over the traditionally sweet filled times of year Halloween and Christmas.

Olivia said: “I am glad that we all did it. It was hard at first, but it did get a bit easier. We each had a jar so we were able to save up any sweets that we were given. I did enjoy eating some of them on 1 January.”