Presentation of funds raised from 2025 Haddenham Scarecrow Festival
The Haddenham Scout and Guide Association are delighted to report that this year's Scarecrow Festival has raised £2,000, almost double the total in 2024.
Most of the funds came from sales of Scarecrow Maps, which were sponsored by Harpers Estate Agents and sold at various outlets throughout Haddenham and at several local events, including Haddenham Fete. Generous and much appreciated donations were also made online by individuals, families, Haddenham Baptist and Methodist churches and various community groups.
A special mention must go to Alison Parsons at Thame Titans Netball club who organised a cake sale and to Lisa Cook at Tiny Gym Haddenham, based in Unite Personal Training Gym at Bradmoor Farm, who set up a donations box. Lisa sent in some photos of some of the young members making their donations – see attached!
Two local charities, The Aylesbury Vale Prostate Cancer Support Group and The Cancer Care and Haematology Fund (CCHF) at Stoke Mandeville Hospital have each been presented with £1000 by Francesca Flaxton and Richard Kendall from Haddenham Scout and Guide Association.
Mike Snell, CCHF Trustee said "We feel very privileged to have been chosen as one of the recipients for this cash and we are continually grateful for the generosity of the people of Haddenham. CCHF will be supporting some important cancer and haematology treatment projects in Buckinghamshire in the coming months that will continue to make a positive difference for patients' experience, so this donation is important to us."
The Aylesbury Vale Prostate Cancer Support Group was set up to provide support to men, their partners and families at a time when they are worried about prostate cancer. They also aim to raise awareness of prostate cancer, the risk of getting it, its detection, and treatment options. The group subsidises two testing sessions per year, one in Aylesbury and the other in Thame.
Group member Richard Veness said "These PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing events are open to any local man aged 40+ who would like a test, whereas it's aged 50+ on the NHS. The man being tested pays £15 and we pay the balance. We are a small committee of six and we rely on donations from local organisations to subsidise PSA tests. The funds raised from the Scarecrow Festival will subsidise 100 tests, so we are very grateful"
Haddenham Scarecrow Festival began in 2016 and has grown into a popular and established community tradition, attracting over 100 entries in 2025. In the last 10 years, the event has raised £17,500 for many local charities and village organisations.
Pictured are Francesca Flaxton and Richard Kendall from Haddenham Scout and Guide Association, with Mike Snell, Trustee of The Cancer Care and Haematology Fund (CCHU) and Richard Veness, Committee Member of Aylesbury Vale Prostate Cancer Support Group.
4th August 2025
