Cookham fundraiser hopes to reach 'half a million' milestone for Oxfam in 40th year

A popular town fundraiser is returning to Sainsbury’s in Providence Place for her 40th year of an annual ‘fast’ for Oxfam.

Barbara Walmsley, who is 88 this year, has been raising money for the charity since she was 16.

The Cookham resident used to fast over three days while collecting money at her fundraising stall near the self-checkout, but now her trusty cardboard cutout ‘Boxfam Barbara’ fasts on her behalf.

For this milestone year, Barbara will marshal the stand at the Sainsbury’s in Maidenhead for four days instead of three and will adjust the timings to collect when footfall is at its peak.

She will undertake 30 hours of fundraising between October 16 and 19.

“This is the 40th year I have raised money for Oxfam by sitting in Maidenhead Sainsbury’s over three days and collecting,” she told the Advertiser.

“For the first 25 years, I fasted with only water and glucose, but a serious heart attack prevented me from doing that, so now I collect and a life-sized cardboard figure ‘fasts’ in my place.”

She has been fundraising for Oxfam for 72 years and hosts an annual Oxfam coffee morning, selling homemade cakes and hot drinks at the parish centre in Cookham’s Holy Trinity Church.

This year’s guest speaker is award-winning comedian and presenter of scientific ideas, Robin Ince, who hosts The Infinite Monkey Cage with Professor Brian Cox on BBC Radio 4.

Tickets for the ‘pre-fast’ coffee morning on Wednesday, October 8, are on sale at The Little Bookshop on Cookham High Street or at Brent de Clippers on Station Road in Cookham.

Barbara said: “Since I started taking part in the fast, I have raised £489,700, so this year, if I am lucky, I might reach half a million.

“It's funny, the harder I work, the luckier I get."

To sponsor Barbara, visit: www.tinyurl.com/39wr2cu5