A TEAM of volunteers are looking to raise enough funds to help keep a much-loved tradition in a Hyde village going.
The annual Gee Cross Community Well Dressing has become an established event over the years, attracting visitors from far and wide.
It usually involves a procession and blessing of the decorated wells around the village, followed by a service and refreshments in Hyde Chapel.
The event is supported entirely by volunteers from the local community and costs in the region of £2,500 to put on every year.
The amount covers the cost of road closures, insurances and other essentials to make the annual event a wonderful occasion.
Organisers are appealing to the generosity of the public to donate what they can via this JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/GeeCrossWellDressing
Vanessa Rothwell, who is spearheading the fundraising appeal, said: “In order to ensure that the 2024 event is able to go ahead, we need your help to raise much-needed funds for the infrastructure of the event.
“We have set up a JustGiving page, so if you are able to donate please do. We will also have collection points around the village in our distinctive green collection buckets hosted by organisations and businesses in Gee Cross.
“We would also like to invite volunteers in other capacities to ensure that 2024 is a huge success for our community.”
To keep updated with the appeal and organisation of this year’s event, you can also join this Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/426859886541130
Although usually associated with Derbyshire, well dressings have long been held in a few places outside the county including Gee Cross, where ceremonies regularly took place from the 1820s until the late 1870s.
To celebrate the new millennium, Gee Cross and District WI decided to revive the tradition in 2000 and it has been an annual fixture ever since.