Two friends are hosting a Christmas market this weekend to raise funds for a local hospice ahead of a charity expedition next year.

The Community Christmas Market is taking place at Lawn Community Centre on Guildford Avenue on Saturday 30 November, as organised by Rebecca Martin and Vanessa Hawkins.

Rebecca and Vanessa are fundraising for Prospect Hospice having both signed up for the charity’s ‘Trek the Great Wall of China 2025’ challenge, which requires them to raise £4,000 each.

Rebecca said: “It has been a difficult couple of years for us so we really wanted to challenge ourselves, and we have had a lot of friends and family who have been impacted by Prospect.

“For the market, we have reached out to local craftspeople and the community as there typically anything like this at the centre, so we thought we’d give it a go.”

The market will take place between 1pm and 4.30pm, and will feature a host of stalls run by people from the Old Town and Lawn community, including arts and crafts, chocolate bouquets, festive gifts and raffles.

There will also be a Christmas-themed musical performance throughout from local music group The Old Town Strummers.

To find out more about the event click here - www.facebook.com/events/1519945855358742/

All money raised will go towards supporting Prospect Hospice, which provides vital end-of-life care throughout Swindon, Marlborough and northeast Wiltshire.

As well as the market, Rebecca says she is already beginning preparations for the trip to China, which will be a nine-day undertaking in September 2025.

“Neither of us have ever done anything like this before. At the start of the year I had a lot of back problems and couldn’t even walk to the end of the drive, so it will be a big achievement.”

The trip will involve spending five days walking along the Great Wall and through nearby jungle areas, including a particularly strenuous section that includes 10,000 uphill steps.

Rebecca and Vanessa have currently raised £2,500 between them, with another £5,500 to go until they reach their fundraising goal.

To read more about Prospect and their work, click here.

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