“Thank you!” Erin cheered, pulling her in for a hug. Pippa squeezed her back, her mind racing with possibilities. Although Pippa wasn’t a fundraising expert, she knew how to organise and work to a budget. She knew how to negotiate as well as manage people. As she looked at her friends’ expectant faces, a familiar feeling swelled within her: purpose. And with it, a speck of pure happiness. As she leaned out of Erin’s embrace, she started mulling over possibilities. “Have you had any ideas?”
Erin blushed. “No. Honestly, I’m so overwhelmed.”
Pippa thought for a moment. “I’d say we need an event, right? Something that makes peoplewantto hand over their money.”
“You mean like a party?” Erin said. “Or maybe, a costume ball?”
“That could work.” Pippa opened the notes app on her phone. “Any other ideas?”
“Sponsored walks are always good,” Mae suggested. “Erin, get the kids doing a sponsored walk, it’d be so cute.”
“Never thought I’d hear the dayyou’ddescribe kids as cute,” Erin said with a chuckle.
“I like kids!” Mae protested. “From a distance. Walking. Preferably away from me. In fact, I’ll happily throw money at them to walk away from me.”
“I can’t see us raising that amount from a sponsored walk alone,” Pippa said. “We have to do something with scale, that appeals to lots of people.” She stood, beginning to pace. “Also, something that doesn’t need a great deal of budget to initiate.” She came to a halt by the kitchen window and looked out across the garden. “The sort of event that businesses would happily sponsor the set-up costs in return for exposure.” Her eyes drifted to the old shed, where, through the open door, she could see the wheelbarrow hanging. The idea was so obvious Pippa almost laughed out loud. She whirled on her heel to look at her friends. “We can resurrect the Summer Fair! The Wheelbarrow Races!”
“Oh my God!” Mae clapped her hands. “Yes!”
Erin laughed. “What, like the old days?”
“Why not?” Pippa said. “It’s perfect! Remember the crowds it used to pull? The races alone used to be over-subscribed, and I bet we’d get so much interest if we resurrected them again. Charge for admissions to the races … get people in fancy dress. I’m sure local news would be interested. That might pull in some donations too.”
Erin’s face twisted in doubt. “Do you really think we can pull it together? We don’t have long.”
Pippa thought for a moment. “If we have to pay upfront in July then we need to have money in our hands in four weeks at least. If you can hand over money by July 31st, let’s say?” Erin nodded. “Then the event needs to be, like, July 20th at the latest. Give us time to get all the money in and ringfenced.”
Erin’s face began to dissolve into panic. “That seems so tight. I don’t know…”
Mae grabbed Erin’s arm. “If anyone can do this, Pip can.”
A warm glow spread through Pippa at Mae’s confidence in her. “We can do it, but it will have to be a team effort. We’ll all need to pitch in.”
“I’m sure I can get the teaching staff to help,” Erin said, confidence slowly restoring her smile. “But we need a clear action plan.”
“I think the most pressing issue is start-up costs,” Pippa said. “Mae, reach out to your contacts to see who would sponsor the event and to what extent.”
Mae saluted ironically. “No problem. I’m off to the local business association meeting tonight as it happens – the perfect opportunity.”
“That’s great!” Pippa said. “We can offer extensive advertising opportunities like billboards, leaflets … the original fair used to attract hundreds upon hundreds of people – the exposure will be huge. We can invite vendors – food carts, ice cream trucks and the like, set up a little market and make them all pay for pitches. The races themselves are easy enough; we just speak to the council to close the roads—”
“I can do that!” Erin interrupted excitedly. “I have to work with the council quite a lot, so I know exactly who to pester.”
“Great. I presume we’d need some kind of insurance; you should ask them to advise on that.” Pippa felt as if she was coming alive. The fair was taking shape before her very eyes, and they’d only just started.
Mae raised a hand. “I have a great broker for my insurance. Let me speak to her about it.”
“Perfect.” Pippa beamed. “Maybe I can ask Wolfie if we can hold the prizegiving ceremony at Squires, like they used to?”
“Ask him? You’ve seen him then?” Mae asked, in hallowed tones. Pippa nodded.
“Wolfie Squires is a total mystery,” Erin added. “I know I’m one to talk having lived abroad for so long, but I can’t even remember what he looks like.”
“Well he’s here a lot nowadays.” Pippa filled Erin in on the pending sale and she was gratified to see her friend’s face drop in horror, like hers.
“I still can’t believe it,” Mae said.
“I only wish he could see how special this place is,” Pippa mused. “If this house got some proper love and care, it’d be like it used to be.”
