Ley Day raises £2500 for Kirkwood Hospice
West Riding pub at Dewsbury Train Station celebrated Ley Day – a day named in honour of friend and regular in the pub, Ley O’Neil who died in April.
Ley was known as a huge character in the pub with a personality as bright as her appearance and everyone wanted to show their love, celebrate her life, and raise funds for Kirkwood Hospice, who cared for Ley through her illness.
The day was organised by Anya Firth who is part of the West Riding team and a close friend of Ley’s. The day was designed around Ley’s personality.
Anya said: “Ley always had a huge smile and was so bright. She wanted a day of love, light, joy and bright colours to celebrate her life.
"In her final weeks, The Kirkwood cared for Ley so amazingly, and the staff all really got to know her, so our aim of the day was the raise money for them.
“The day fell perfectly in our Dewsbury Music Foundation weekender festival, so we had a few bands playing and Ley’s personal favourite - DJ Natalie.
“The whole day was just so special, and it really felt like Ley was there with us. I’m just so happy that we raised so much money, and I am so grateful for everyone for being so generous and supportive.
"I hope wherever Ley is, she’s still happy and dancing away!
"Thank you to everyone who helped me organise the day, donate prizes and portraits, and for the West Riding family - in which Ley has left a huge Mohican shaped hole in all our hearts.”
The whole pub was dedicated to Ley with pictures of her everywhere. People read out poems they had written, and Craft Club had a pay-as-you-feel stand, where they were selling Mohican badges (dedicated to Ley’s trademark Mohican), LeyPoms, and other crafty Ley-inspired bits.
Various artworks of Ley were donated and auctioned off, including a portrait by Marie Cash, and paintings by Zahoor and Joyce from Dewsbury Arts Group, where Ley was a frequent model for their life drawing classes.
Anya also ran a huge raffle with prizes donated by local businesses including Spices & Rices, Yorkshire Beers, LWC Drinks, The Luxury Mushroom Company, Makeup by Mara etc.
The day’s activities raised an amazing £2241.43 and The West Riding has topped that up to make it £2500.
A plaque has been installed in the West Riding beer garden to always remember her but Ley Day is not over.
It was such a joyous event that the team has committed to running Ley Day every year to recreate the love and joy that this inaugural event delivered.
A team from the West Riding are also hoping to boost the funds raised so far with a sponsored hike from Emley to Thornhill planned for Sunday August 9, with 20 people signed up to complete it so far.
A fundraising page will follow but you can sponsor the team in the pub or even sign up to do the walk too.