Frank Sharp and Fundraising for Saint Francis Hospice
My involvement with charity began in 1968 when I became an Essex freemason, with charity being one of the core aims of Masonry. Over the years, that commitment grew, and in 2004 I set up the Yvonne Jean Stewart Charitable Trust (YJS) at the request of the family of our dear friend Yvonne Stewart, who passed away in 2003. I became its Treasurer, and my wife Angela served as one of its Trustees.
A few years later, Yvonne’s daughter Nina met Anne Brown, from the hospice’s fundraising team, at a charity event, and the Trust chose to devote its fundraising to supporting Saint Francis Hospice. This connection soon became even more personal when Gary Anderson, the brother of Nina’s husband Glen, was cared for by the hospice. Since 2016, the YJS Trust has donated a remarkable £263,000 to Saint Francis. One of my proudest moments was presenting a cheque in 2016 for £21,000, covering the cost of the hospice’s extra leap year day.
My involvement with eBay fundraising actually began back in 2007, when I first started selling masonic items to raise money for charity. For many years, while I was Treasurer of the YJS Trust, the proceeds from those sales were channelled to Saint Francis through the Trust’s donations.
At the end of 2018 I stood down as Treasurer, but my commitment to Saint Francis Hospice remained exactly the same. I simply continued with the eBay sales in my own capacity, directing the bulk of the funds straight to the hospice.
The masonic items I sell are primarily given to me by the families of deceased brethren, or they come back to a lodge when a brother dies and are then passed on to me to sell for charity. When donations slow down, I sometimes purchase job lots from eBay on behalf of Saint Francis Hospice and the profit goes to Saint Francis.
Frank Sharp with Healthcare Assistants Sam Chance and Kerry Diamond
My best year of sales was three years ago, when I raised just under £12,000. What I achieve each year varies according to the value of the items donated, but on average I raise between £5,000 and £10,000 annually. I’m pleased to say that 2026 has started well, with proceeds - including Gift Aid - already exceeding £2,744.
Supporting Saint Francis Hospice continues to be a privilege, and I hope to keep raising funds for as long as I am able, helping the hospice provide its vital care to local people and their loved ones.
