Penrith fundraiser and community pioneer Cameron Stewart has had a brush with royalty, after receiving a letter from Windsor Castle on behalf of the Queen, congratulating him on his Christmas care homes campaign.
Cameron – an avid fundraiser and charity supporter – collected cards and gifts to give to staff and residents at all of Penrith’s care homes over the festive period to thank staff for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic and remind the residents that while they might not have been able to visit, the people of the town were thinking of them.
Cameron was invited to write to the Queen, after the High Sheriff of Cumbria and the Lord Lieutenant read about his campaign.
He said: “I was told Her Majesty, would read the letter and I would receive a response.”
And Cameron has now received a reply from Her Majesty’s lady-in-waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, who wrote: “The Queen wishes me to thank you for your letter, from which Her Majesty was interested to hear about the campaign you organised last year, asking people to donate items which could be given as Christmas gifts to the residents and staff at three care homes in Penrith.
“Her Majesty was pleased to know that this was so enthusiastically supported by businesses, schools and charitable organisations and the Queen can well imagine how delighted the residents and staff were with the gifts and cards they received.
“I am to say thank you once again for your kind thought in writing as you did, and to say how glad Her Majesty is to learn about those of her subjects who give so much to the communities in which they live and are an inspiration to others.”
Cameron said he was immensely proud to receive the letter and wanted to share it with the people of Penrith, for their “incredible kindness to fellow local people, during a challenging time”.
He said he wanted to pass on the message of thanks to all the people who supported the cause.
Cameron has already embarked on another campaign, this time to thank NHS workers at Easter, by enabling the community to send Easter cards to every NHS worker in the area.
These are being collected at Penrith’s Starfruits until March 28 and Cameron will also collect in bulk from other venues.
He plans to deliver them to NHS sites on April 12, when lockdown rules have eased.
