TWO Cotswold churches helped raise more than £1,500 and plenty of local awareness for a pancreatic cancer charity on Sunday.

Sarah Dennis, of West Hay Grove, Kemble, ensured Cirencester Parish Church and Kemble Church turned purple for Pancreatic Cancer UK on Sunday, November 1 as part of the charity’s national Purple Lights for Hope.

Sarah, who lost her father to the disease in July 2013, said: “Everything went very well over the weekend. The public response was amazing and a lot of shops went all out with their support.

 “We spoke to many people about Pancreatic Cancer, distributed a lot of information leaflets and, at the last count, we raised over £1500 for the charity. This included a generous donation of £300 from Kemble Church.”

Sarah's sister, Rachel, who along with their mum, Sue, has also been involved in the campaign, got married on June 30 at her father's bedside, a couple of days before he died. She brought the wedding forward when they knew he didn't have long left so he could still give her away.


The total amount raised is expected to increase over the next few days and weeks as several shops have taken collection boxes, the proceeds of which will all contribute to the total.

Sarah would like to thank all the individuals and businesses that supported the event.