AN unexpected visitor bearing a “fantastic gift” has given a major boost to a planned crisis pregnancy centre in Evesham.

In January last year, a team of volunteers began drawing up plans for a centre that would offer impartial advice and practical help to women and men related to pregnancy issues.

A dozen people came forward to start training as volunteer advisers and the search began for a suitable premises to rent in Evesham town centre.

Fund-raising also started as it was expected that about £11,000 would be needed to run the centre in its first year.

With more than half of that sum raised by the end of the year, prospective centre manager Gill Woods received an unexpected visitor late on Christmas Eve at her home.

“We had completed our shopping and the Christmas festivities had begun,” said Gill. “The door bell rang and a stranger stood at the door with an envelope.

She explained that she was a trustee of a charitable trust that I had been in contact with.”

When Gill opened the envelope after the unexpected visitor had left, she found a cheque for £2,500 inside. She said: “It was amazing. We had hoped the trust would look favourably upon us and give us a donation but we never expected anything as generous as this.”

“We are very grateful and are now in a position to rent a property and furnish it. It truly was a special Christmas gift.”

The committee is now hoping to open the centre in Evesham soon. The next fund-raising event is a charity Zumbathon on Saturday, February 23, at the Vale of Evesham Christian Centre from 3pm-5pm. Tickets cost £8 and are available from Ibby on 07892 720345 or zumba.ibby@yahoo.com To offer support to the venture contact Gill Woods at gill@ data-solutions.co.uk