Retired teacher from Stevenage to hold fundraiser in Hitchin for cause close to her heart

Joan Mills raises money for hearing loss charity (Image: Archant)

Joan Mills from Stevenage has stacks of clothes and other items donated from family and friends which she will be selling on Sunday to raise money for Action on Hearing Loss.

She said: “My daughter has hearing problems and so I decided that as I have finished teaching I can fundraise for the charity. So I looked around for different ways of doing it.”

Having retired from her primary school supply teacher role at Easter, Joan decided to appeal to family and friends for unwanted items that she could sell on.

It had the desired effect and Joan’s spare room at her house in Grandby Road is full to bursting with donated items, including lots of winter coats.

She said: “I have got lots and lots of stuff, people have been so kind. I have got a 6ft rail of clothes hanging in my spare room ready for Sunday.”

Joan was inspired to back Action on Hearing Loss as both her children have been affected by hearing problems.

Since then she has researched the causes and effects of hearing loss and was shocked at how many people are affected by it.

She said: “I have discovered that people can and do lose their hearing overnight. I used to think that if you were born and you could hear then you would be fine until you were much older, but that is not true.

“People lose their hearing overnight and, if you do, how do you do your job, listen to music or do anything? You can’t communicate at all.”

Joan will have a stall in Hitchin’s Market Place from 9am until 2pm on Sunday.

All of the money raised will go to the charity which supports sufferers and funds research into new treatments and cures.

To find out more visit www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk.