A fundraising drive supported by GB News helped raise more than £100,000 for the charity ‘Friends of the Elderly’ in the space of just 24 hours.
After a flood of donations, a new target of £260,000 has been set by presenter Patrick Christys.
The staggering sum matches the amount given in grants by the charity last year.
So far more £133,085 has been raised by 5,312 supporters.
Speaking on GB News on on Tuesday evening Patrick Christys said:
“I would like to start by saying a big thank you. Yesterday, I launched a fundraiser for Friends of the Elderly.
“I’m sick and tired of the elderly in Britain being put at the back of the queue. We have money for everyone else, it seems, but they have to lose their winter fuel payments. Their council tax is going up. As many as 4000 are set to die this winter as a result of recent cuts. I think that’s an absolute abomination, frankly.
“So I set up the fundraiser this time yesterday. In the last 24 hours, you have raised well more than £100,000 In fact, you’ve just raised another two and a bit grand in the last couple of minutes. It’s now £104,138,that is plus £22,180 in Gift Aid as well.
“It really is a remarkable effort and I would just like to say thank you.
“All that money goes to Friends of the Elderly.
“And yesterday, I set the target of £100,000. But obviously, because you’ve already done that now, 24 hours in, we need a new target, don’t we?
“The new target is £260,000. Why? I can hear you asking.
“Well, last year, Friends of the Elderly saw a 10% increase in the number of people desperate for financial help, and then they managed to give £260,000 worth of grants. So that was in the year just gone.
“So let’s see if we can match that those grants will go towards utility bills, food fixing people’s ovens, helping get people to doctor’s appointments, to dentists appointments, paying for care.
“It is a disgrace that our greatest generation is suffering like this. You can make a difference.
“I really want to show the elderly in Britain that we really do care because nobody voted for the pensioners to live in poverty.”
People can donate at https://justgiving.com/page/saveourseniors