A MEMORY TREE tree has helped Dementia Friendly Keighley collect a bumper crop of cash this Christmas.

Volunteers from the charity raised a record £1,412 with their Christmas fair in the Airedale Shopping Centre.

They will also receive money raised through a Memory Tree placed in the entrance lobby of Keighley Market in memory of a stallholder’s late mother.

Staff and volunteers from Dementia Friendly Keighley (DFK) left their busy Christmas fair to nip across the market to thank Yvonne Bryant for her efforts.

Yvonne runs the market’s Just4Paws stall and created the Memory Tree in tribute to parents Barry and Catherine Bryant. Catherine died this year.

Anyone who wants to remember a loved one this Christmas can make a donation in exchange for adding their own dedication card to the tree.

Yvonne is also the managing director of Bryant Plastics, and has made it one of the firm’s charities for the festive season alongside Manorlands hospice.

As well as the Memory Tree, Yvonne has set up a tree, decorated with colourful lights and dozens of moving miniature models of buildings and funfairs, to attract people as they enter the main market.

Additional seasonal attractions, all with donation buckets for DFK and Manorlands, include a winter wonderland in a vacant stall with Father Christmas in attendance, and a wood cabin winter scene.

Yvonne said: “Every year I try and do something for local charities but I was especially motivated to set up the Memory Tree display this Christmas as I’m feeling the loss of my Mum, particularly at this festive time.

“This seemed a very appropriate way to remember her and my Dad, and raise some funds for two local charities”.

DFK chairman Jan Smithies set every penny donated will be put to very good use.

“My mum Nell died this year, and her struggle with dementia was one of the motivating factors in my joining the Board of DFK. I can relate to Yvonne’s Memory Tree and will be hanging my own memory of my mum and making a donation.

“Yvonne has done a great job in making a very welcoming, colourful display across several parts of the market and I would encourage people to look at what’s on offer at the stalls as well as visiting the festive attractions and making a donation.”

Helen Charters, DFK’s Drop-In Manager, said the £1,412 raised the Christmas fair was an increase of £600 on the charity’’s previous Airedale Centre fundraiser.

She said: “We had some fantastic quality donations from local people and businesses to ensure we got lots of customers at the various stalls. We had over a dozen volunteers helping us to get ready the week before and staffing the stalls on the day as well as many volunteer bakers.”