Seventy-nine-year-old Mary Phillips held a charity auction at Trethorne in Launceston on Saturday, October 19 in order to raise funds for two charities close to her heart — the Devon and Cornwall air ambulances.
Mary, who believes she has raised a total of around £80,000 for the charities, was delighted with the success of the auction. She said: “It was absolutely brilliant. I raised £3,000 overall for the Devon and Cornwall air ambulances.”
Mary has held numerous fundraising events over time, but for the last nine years has carried out a tractor show in her 1953 Field Marshall Series 3A tractor, as well as visiting Kivells every week with a bucket to encourage donations.
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In 2012, she drove her beloved tractor from John O’ Groats to Lands End, and has also travelled the length of the Cornish coast, the Devon coast and Somerset, where she is originally from. Overall, Mary believes she has racked up 5,000 miles on her tractor, driving at just nine miles an hour.
Mary explained that she has been fundraising ever since her move from Somerset to Cornwall.
The air ambulance is a cause that is close to Mary’s heart, after experiencing a scary moment a few years ago.
She said: “My mum was living with us and I took her for a drive around. We stopped in a shop and I called her name and noticed she wasn’t answering. I could see she was dribbling and it became clear that it was a stroke. The doctor said to go home and dial 999, and within minutes an ambulance was on its way and paramedics were at my door.
“She didn’t have to go in the air ambulance in the end, but it goes to show why they need the money to continue their vital work.”
Mary’s charitable nature has been something that has stuck with her since she was just a child: “I have raised money since I was eleven years old. If I had all that (fundraising money) here now, added onto my recent fundraising, I would have raised in the region of £200,000 — which is quite impressive.”
Mary was awarded the British Empire Medal during Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday honours, and she has also released two books on her tractor runs and fundraising ventures.
Her most recent fundraiser, the charity auction at Trethorne, proved to be a great success. Mary said: “It started with a carvery — which was fantastic, the food at Trethorne is so good. Then we went onto the charity auction, led by James Morrish from Kivells — and David Kivell also came along too, which was brilliant. Then there was a big raffle and entertainment.
“It was an absolutely wonderful evening and I would like to thank everyone who came along to show their support. People have already said they’re looking forward to next year’s event, so that goes to show it is popular. It was brilliant.”
And as for Mary’s future fundraising ventures, nothing is impossible, even at the age of 79! She added: “Age doesn’t come into it!”