Fringe in the Fen set to beat fundraising record

DONATIONS are still pouring in to support Fringe in the Fen, which is on target on beating its fundraising record.

The week-long festival in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support attracted more than 2,500 visitors to Fenstanton and nearby villages, where organisers put on 30 events in 15 venues.

Around 650 people went to the finale, the Proms in the Park, which ended in a moment of solitude as 400 balloons with the names of people who had been affected by cancer were released into the night sky.

Nigel Ferrier, one of the organisers, told The Hunts Post: “With the organisers and performers, there were more than 800 people for the final night, which made for a fantastic and electric atmosphere. It produced a teary moment at the end as we asked for people to write the name of someone they wanted to remember to attach to a balloon which we released at the final part of the show.

“It was a spectacle and really gave focus to why people were there, the razzmatazz is great but it was good for everyone to focus on what it’s all about.”

Mr Ferrier said he expected the festival would break the 2011 total and would be able to produce the final tally once the Cambridge Building Society has collated its collections that it has in each of its branches.

“It is impossible to say how much at the moment as donations are still coming in, this morning we received a cheque for £1,000 from someone who came and wanted to give their support,” he added.

The money will be spent on the Macmillan Cancer unit at Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

Mr Ferrier also paid his respect to the “tremendous” volunteers or “Fringe makers” who “gave up lots of their time to run successful events throughout the week”.

Although not confirmed, Mr Ferrier hopes to announce the dates on a 2015 Fringe in the Fen in the coming weeks.