Gogglebox star quits fundraising for good after raising more than £41,000

Former Gogglebox prima Marina Wingrove, 89, has raised much than £41,000 for charities implicit the past 17 years but said she has present decided to measurement backmost from fundraising

A erstwhile Gogglebox prima has decided to halt fundraising aft moving with a fig of charities for astir 2 decades.

Marina Wingrove, who appeared connected the Channel 4 world amusement from 2016 to 2021, has hosted her last-ever java morning. Over the past 17 years, the 89-year-old has raised much than £41,000 for charities including Macmillan, Great Western Air Ambulance Charity and Children's Hospice South West.

The wealth was raised astatine regular events organised by Marina, specified arsenic java mornings, day teas and Christmas fairs. Her dedication to bully causes was honoured with a peculiar lawsuit astatine the St Monica Trust Retirement Village successful Bristol, wherever she lives.

She said of her fundraising: "It's astonishing implicit the years however each the wealth builds up. They conscionable emotion quizzes and raffles successful here. Any excuse to get unneurotic and person a chat amongst themselves.

"I'm precise grateful to each the residents for their support. They're precise generous and they ever bargain a raffle summons oregon donate prizes. I've enjoyed each infinitesimal of it. I'm atrocious to springiness it up, but it's clip for maine to halt and person a remainder now. I’ll beryllium 90 astatine Christmas."

She added: "I've lived with the St Monica Trust for 18 years. I bask my beingness present and wouldn't privation to person lived anyplace else. It's a bully spot to live. I’ll inactive spell to the quizzes and I similar my euphony and parties. It's not similar I tin get up and creation immoderate more, but that’s what my close hand’s for – to person a drink. I'll inactive ever beryllium disposable to assistance if needed."

St Monica Trust Retirement Village manager Claire Chambers said: "We're atrocious to spot Marina telephone clip connected her foundation work, (but) we deliberation that if anyone deserves a well-earned remainder it's her. From raising wealth to organising events, to helping beforehand the enactment of the St Monica Trust, Marina's publication to our assemblage has been immense – not to notation being the beingness and psyche of our parties."

Various charities thanked her for her hard work, with Macmillan's narration fundraising manager, Diana Roberts, saying it is not often you conscionable radical arsenic "passionate and dedicated to charity", reported the Manchester Evening News. She said: "She has supported Macmillan for galore years and successful that clip has raised the equivalent of 446 nursing hours. Just ideate the fig of lives that person been changed due to the fact that of you, Marina."

Amanda Leonard, country fundraiser for the Children's Hospice South West, echoed her words, saying the foundation is "truly grateful" for Ms Wingrove's enactment and that it had been a pleasance getting to cognize her. She said: "We would not beryllium capable to enactment implicit 250 families successful the Bristol and Somerset country without the energy, devotion and sheer generosity of supporters conscionable similar Marina."

Marina appeared connected Gogglebox with her champion person and chap St Monica resident, Mary Cook, until she died successful 2021. The cheeky Bristolians, who lived adjacent doorway to each different successful sheltered flats, rapidly became steadfast favourites with the show's fans and were champion known for their racy comments.

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