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The love that lead to 25 years of charity work

 

Charity work is an act of pure selflessness, and sometimes is the result out of love for a loved one. Many compete in Race for Life with the name of whom they are running for written on their backs, but for an 85 year old woman she went the extra mile and raised over 2 million for Southend Hospital.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joyce Long, who lives in Thundersley, Essex, began her long reign of charity work over 25 year ago out of love for her husband, Percy, when he needed eye laser treatment and Southend Hospital did not have the required equipment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The charity work first began when Joyce would go round pubs and bars collecting money, as well as selling old items of clothing, furniture and any unwanted items. But today Joyce’s charity sales are held in her own back garden, where the items for sale range from books, DVDs to old sewing machines and ornaments.  Her charity sales are very well known in the area with people coming as far as Southend and Wickford.

Joyce said: “People come to me all the time and say Joyce you can sell this in your next charity sale. They leave items in my front garden as well. The sale is about a week long and when they open in the morning the queue to get in goes all the way down the road.”

 

Joyce’s next week long sale will begin on Monday 18th May, but already people have started donating stuff and leaving it on Joyce’s drive way as shown in the video below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fundraising veteran is a very humble person and whilst everyone around her – family, friends, neighbours and locals - seem amazed by what she has accomplished, she does not see the big deal. The only thing Joyce wants to focus on is what the charity wants, what she can give to the charity and what she is selling in her charity sale – any questions on her personal life or even Percy and she just gives a smile and pushed the conversation back to what she chooses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joyce said: “You always have to give a little back, you can never take too much. It’s only the right thing to do."

 

Joyce has a very large family who are all very proud and inspired by what she does. Her great grandson, Mason Raby, said: “My great nan has devoted around 25/30 years of her life to helping other and the local community, she’s truly passionate about doing what she can to help others. She’s one of not many people who are willing to dedicate her time and energy to a selfless cause. She’s an inspiration and a great lady."