Retford youngster raises cash for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice with rescue chickens’ ‘rainbow eggs’

Lucy Broughton started delivering boxes of the eggs free-of-charge to elderly and vulnerable people who were self-isolating when the Covid-19 pandemic started to spread throughout England.

However when they insisted on paying Lucy’s parents Bill and Fay Broughton decided to donate the proceeds to the charity.

The family already kept 14 chickens - a mix of Polish, Cotswold Legbar, Araucanas, Buff Orpingtons, Friesian and Wyandottes.

However when the seriousness of the virus became clear they rescued 20 more - former battery Rhode Island Red Hybrids - from Letwell’s Peppersfield Equine and Poultry Rehabilitation Centre.

The different breeds produce a variety of colours - which led the family to name the eggs Lucy’s Rainbow Eggs.

At the time of writing she had sold 75 boxes at £1.50 each - raising over £120.

Aside from her deliveries to those self-isolating nearby Lucy leaves the eggs in a stall at the end of the Broughtons’ garden - where people collect them and leave their payment.

Proud dad Bill, 43, said: “We give eggs to a lady who is in her late-80s who insisted on paying - when we said we’d give the money to Bluebell Wood Lucy got really excited.

“She’s really enjoying it - she gets plenty of fresh air and it keeps her looking after the chickens.

“The chickens are having a better life and she’s looking after people who might otherwise have struggled to get hold of eggs.”

David Thorpe, Headmaster at Ranby House School, said: "I am tremendously proud of so many of our children at Ranby House - who are thinking about others during this difficult time.

“Lucy is another example of children wanting to do their bit in support of charities and key workers.

“She has raised over £100 for Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice - which is wonderful and certainly appreciated by the charity."

Like many charities across the UK Bluebell Wood relies heavily on funding from supporters’ charity events.

However, many, - including its Soapbox Derby in June - have been cancelled.

To make a donation to the charity click HERE.

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