WATCH: Scarborough florists make emotional thank you video as blue bow appeal raises £13,000

An incredible £13,000 has been raised for local health services thanks to the team who offered the door ribbons in return for donations.

Michelle Brown from Flowers of Distinction on North Marine Road, Claire Fenwick from Forget Me Not Florist on Victoria Road and Claire Warburton from Rose Garden Florist on Dean Road said they were inundated with requests.

Claire Fenwick said: “It’s been unbelievable, it’s just crackers.

“I’ve lost count of how many bows we have made but it must be thousands.”

As well as making bows for homes all across Scarborough, the florists have posted some out as far as Wales and Glasgow.

Of the money raised, £10,000 will go to Scarborough Hospital, £2,000 will go to St Catherine’s Hospice and £1,000 will go towards a memorial garden at Cross Lane Hospital.

The florists wanted to mark the success of the project by creating a video which includes touching tributes to several loved ones and friends they have lost.

They have also raised £800 for a brain research charity by creating a batch of rainbow bows.

And they made a special batch of green and yellow bows free of charge for colleagues of the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician from Scarborough who died last month after contracting coronavirus.

The team are now bringing the project to a close and looking at how they can return to their work.

But Claire said they are hoping to make the bows an annual scheme to raise money for charities.

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