Home -> News List -> COUPLE FROM MALTBY RAISE £16K FOR LOCAL CHILDREN\'S CHARITY TO SCOOP ULTIMATE DREAM WEDDING PRIZE

COUPLE FROM MALTBY RAISE £16K FOR LOCAL CHILDREN'S CHARITY TO SCOOP ULTIMATE DREAM WEDDING PRIZE

Raising thousands of pounds for charity was a dream come true in more ways than one, for devoted couple Laura and Stuart from Maltby in Rotherham.

Six month pregnant Laura Smith aged 27, and her fiancé Stuart Maude 22, were announced live on air this morning with Big john @ Breakfast, as the winning couple of Hallam FM’s Five Brides One Wedding Competition. Beating more than 1300 applicants and taking part in a gruelling Bridal Boot Camp day, prior to being set the ultimate challenge – to raise as much money in one week for Hallam FM’s Cash for Kids charity. The early mornings, late nights, high blood pressure and endless fundraising tasks definitely turned out to be worth every minute for the happy couple, who by raising a staggering £16,176.86 in just 8 days, secured them an amazing reward – a dream wedding package worth £25,000 set to take place in just 3 weeks time at The Crown Hotel in Bawtry!!

Competing against four other couples, Terri & Mikey from Sheffield, Sharon & Steve from Barnsley, Becks & Ash from Doncaster, and Becky and Danny from Rotherham, they all took to the streets of South Yorkshire to compete against each other in their challenge to raise as much as possible for Hallam FM’s Cash for Kids. From multiple supermarket bag packing events across the region, fundraising comedy nights, full body waxes, sky dives and auctions… you think of it, the couples did it! And what a result it achieved, despite four of the five couples having to leave Hallam FM this morning empty handed gutted at not winning the wedding, their hard work and commitment to fundraising didn’t go unrewarded… as they learned that between them all they had helped to raise an overwhelming £64,390.86 for local children’s charity Hallam FM & Magic AM’s Cash for Kids!!!!

For the winning couple, Laura and Stuart, the next stage of their wedding journey starts now, as they have the next challenge ahead… arranging everything for their wedding set to take place the day before the Royal Wedding, on 28th April… in just 3 weeks! Speaking to Hallam FM while she tried to let the news sink in, six month pregnant Laura was just astounded saying;

“I really can’t believe it… we really are going to be married in a few weeks time, and all before this little ones born! (rubbing her baby bump). If we’d have thought a few weeks ago before this all began, that we’d have entered a competition on Hallam FM, beaten 1300 other couples to get down to the final 5, raised over £16k in just one week, and then be getting married at the end of the month at The Crown… well we’d have just never believed it, we still can’t! It was great fun and we can’t believe the support we have had from our family, friends, work colleagues and members of the public. It’s been hard work, but worth every minute, we just can’t begin to thank everyone enough”

For the runners up, just being part of this competition and having the opportunity to raise so much money for charity has been a hugely rewarding in itself. Couple number 5 Becky and Danny reflected after the result;

“we cannot thank everyone enough for picking us out of all of those applications and inviting us to  boot camp and then to be one of the final five. Even though we didn't win, we are still extremely proud of the amount we raised for cash for kids and that is what the competition was all about. We would still very much like to be involved with cash for kids so if ever you need any volunteers please just get in touch.”

For the winning couple, Laura and Stuart, the next stage of their wedding journey starts now, as they have the next challenge ahead… arranging everything for their wedding set to take place the day before the Royal Wedding, on 28th April… in just 3 weeks! Speaking to Hallam FM while she tried to let the news sink in, six month pregnant Laura was just astounded saying;

“I really can’t believe it… we really are going to be married in a few weeks time, and all before this little ones born! (rubbing her baby bump). If we’d have thought a few weeks ago before this all began, that we’d have entered a competition on Hallam FM, beaten 1300 other couples to get down to the final 5, raised over £16k in just one week, and then be getting married at the end of the month at The Crown… well we’d have just never believed it, we still can’t! It was great fun and we can’t believe the support we have had from our family, friends, work colleagues and members of the public. It’s been hard work, but worth every minute, we just can’t begin to thank everyone enough”

Katy Winterschladen, Hallam FM & Magic AM’s Cash for Kids Charity Manager is so proud of how hard all the couples worked during fundraising week and is astounded at the result;
“I am absolutely overwhelmed with the result and the amount raised by our 5 amazing couples in just 1 week! It has been an exciting and emotional time with sheer hard work and determination! Huge congratulations go to our winning couple Laura & Stu who raised an incredible £16,176.86!! Thank you to everyone who has supported our couples, as all of the money raised will make such a significant difference to the neediest local children in South Yorkshire.”

Cash for Kids is hugely reliant on the support of local businesses to sponsor big fundraising campaigns like this, so having The Crown Hotel Bawtry involved, was integral to the fundraising campaign and the massive amount raised. Sales Manager Katey Dent from The Crown Hotel commented;

 “Our 4 star sister hotels The Crown in Bawtry and Rutland hotel in Sheffield are delighted to have been part of 5 brides 1 wedding. The hotels have a long standing relationship with Hallam FM, and the charity angle with Cash for Kids made this promotion even more special. We now have to get down to the nitty gritty details of the wedding with Laura and Stu – its going to be a blast – and all happening the day before the Royal wedding!!”

The happy couple, who have been together for two years and now expecting their first child together, are now looking forward to the wedding of a lifetime, set to take place at The Crown Hotel Bawtry on 28th April, the day before the Royal Wedding. Hallam FM will be following their progress through the wedding planning and on the day itself as much of South Yorkshire will be keen to see and hear about finale ending to this couple’s fairy tail wedding story!