A GENEROUS donation from Stourbridge MP Margot James has helped push the Stourbridge News Well of Life appeal past the £2,000 mark.

Ms James auctioned a bottle of House of Commons whiskey, signed by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, at a fundraising lunch in Dudley last Friday.

The auctioned bottle raised £500 and the Tory MP kindly donated the money to the News appeal, which is aiming to raise £10,000 for a water pump in the Gambian village of Sintet.

Ms James said: “People were very happy to be supporting the cause and signed bottles are always popular at fundraising events and go down very well.

“However, I also think people at the auction were very swayed by the appeal itself.

“We raised £500 which is really great and was it was a pleasure for me to do my bit for a very good cause.”

Before being elected as the MP for Stourbridge, Ms James worked in international development which involved many trips to areas of Africa which received British aid.

Ms James added: “Although I have never been to the Gambia, I have seen the types of problems they are going through firsthand.

“It is very important to do something to help and this is why the Well of Life appeal is so pivotal.”

With Ms James’ contribution added to the many donations we have received from our caring readers and members of the community leaves the appeal’s total currently standing at £2,290.

To donate to our Well of Life appeal visit www.justgiving.com/welloflifeappeal or text PROG15 and your amount, either £10, £5, £4, £3, £2, £1, to 70070.

People can also donate cash or cheques in person at the Stourbridge News offices, at St John’s House, St John’s Road, Stourbridge.

Cheques need to be made payable to Project Gambia Trust Ridgewood, and you’ll need to write Well off Life Appeal on the back.