Your Champions: Zoe Bock, events co-ordinator for Cheshire Witches, nominated for Champion of the Year

Sep 3 2009 by Mark Dowling, Chester Chronicle

A VOLUNTEER fundraiser has received a Your Champions 2009 nomination for helping raise charity cash.

Zoe Bock, events co-ordinator for the Cheshire Witches (Women in touch with Claire House), is in line for the accolade for helping organise charitable events in aid of the children’s hospice.

Claire House’s area fundraising manager Abi Smith, who nominated Zoe for her fundraising efforts, said: “Zoe has become a great ambassador for Claire House and is always thinking of ways to raise money but also gets us PR for the charity.

“She’s founded a ladies group in Chester and is the driving force behind this.

“She’s planning next year’s events including a ball and ladies lunch. Her events are for everybody and she aims at the working people, which makes a refreshing change.

“Zoe can relate to all different types of people and can always make people smile no matter how they feel.

“We are really lucky to have Zoe on board as an ambassador as she shows volunteering is not something you do when you retire, you can do it at any age.

“She has got so many people on board for the ladies group, from retired ladies to businesswomen.”

Zoe said: “We have about 20 women on board at the moment, and everybody’s a volunteer.

“We held our launch event earlier this year in the Blackhouse Grill, and raised more than £1,000. Our target is to raise £10,000 by Christmas this year.

“The women help raise money and awareness for the hospice, which does so much for the children there who are suffering.

“The hospice helps make the children’s lives more enjoyable.”