A GOREY café owner has hit her £40,000 fundraising target after years of selling fish finger sandwiches, sweet treats and knitted chickens – thanks to the “amazing support” of her customers.
Rhona Hewit, the owner of Rhona’s at the Beach, announced last month that she was £1,000 away from her target, with proceeds going to the MND Association this year, a charity which supports people affected by motor neurone disease.
She had also said that she would be selling donated knitted chickens in the run-up to Easter to reach her £40,000 goal before her birthday on 17 March.
And Ms Hewit has now achieved her goal thanks to an “amazing customer” who donated the remaining £65.
Her fish-finger-sandwich fundraising started in 2018 in memory of a beloved family member.
Each year Ms Hewit chooses a local charity to benefit from the proceeds generated by the sale of her fish finger sandwiches.
“The community spirit is incredible in Jersey. I wouldn’t be able to do this by myself and without the community,” she said.
“I’m immensely proud of myself, but, more importantly, of everyone who continues to support me in my efforts.”
Ms Hewit started the initiative after she lost her nephew to suicide, spurring her on to raise money for the Jersey Recovery College. The café raised almost £5,000 for ocean therapy charity Healing Waves in 2022 and more than £6,000 for the Christian charity Grace Trust last year.
Ms Hewit was a winner at last year’s Pride of Jersey awards, when she was named Community Champion of the Year for her fundraising efforts.
