Generous Wigan mum organising fund-raising raffles to support good causes and charities

Kirsty West with husband Ryan and children Maisie, seven, and Ethan, four

She has been running prize raffles on a regular basis over the past few weeks, raising £200 for charities and organisations tackling Covid-19 each time.

So far the beneficiaries of Kirsty’s generosity include Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh (WWL) NHS Foundation Trust, the borough’s domestic violence charity Dias and Aspull community hub The One House.

The fund-raisers are lottery-style bonus ball draws, with one winner scooping a cash jackpot and the rest of the money put in going to the organisations.

The idea, which Kirsty created while on furlough from her job at a medical legal agency, has proved extremely popular with all the tickets for some of them being snapped up within a couple of days.

Kirsty, 32, said: “I was at home with the kids just thinking about what I could do to help people.

“I’m going to keep doing these raffles. I’m doing another one at the moment for The One House because some people missed out on the first one.

“I hadn’t really heard much about them before but someone told me about everything they do and I thought they might need some help.

“I’m constantly coming up with ideas for the raffles because I haven’t got much else to focus on.”

Kirsty has also done a raffle for The Christie as the specialist cancer hospital has previously helped members of her family.

Kirsty’s efforts have also attracted praise from Aspull New Springs Whelley ward elected representative Coun Chris Ready.

He said: “She’s an amazing lady who is raising a young family and raising money for others. She is really making a difference.”

The One House chairman Pete Ashcroft has also thanked Kirsty for her donation.

Anyone wanting to play the raffles can find out more about her mission by searching for Kirsty West on her Facebook page.