Classic car helps raises cash for support group (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Classic car helps raises cash for support group

A BEREAVED father has raised £170,000 for the support group that helped him come to terms with his son's premature death by raffling off a classic car they had been restoring together.

The help and support Peter Sidebottom received from the Child Bereavement Trust following the death of his 24-year-old son, Harry, motivated the 62 year-old property developer to raise money for the charity.

Six years ago the two men were restoring a classic 1951 Jaguar XK 120 coupe, which was to be Harry's car when it was finished.

Tragically, before the car's restoration was completed Harry died in a car crash near the family's Sherston home in September 1999.

Mr Sidebottom decided to raffle the car to raise money for the Trust, whch helped him and his ex-wife, Flappy - Harry's mother - following their loss.

The raffle was launched in January and the winner recently announced.

More than 75,000 tickets were sold at £2 each throughout the UK, and together with donations from the general public £170,000 was raised.

The car was won by Jenny Whitmore from Sussex, who received her prize from Mr Sidebottom at the London-based business of Harriet Scott, a friend of Harry's who sold her the ticket.

Mr Sidebottom said: "It went really well, most importantly it has raised the profile of the charity hugely."