A HEARTWARMING community event in memory of a much-loved Pembrokeshire schoolgirl has raised over £7,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance.

Honey Foxx French, 12, tragically passed away last year and her incredible family marked her 13th birthday by baking thousands of cakes in her memory.

Honey, who was called Bee by her family, had a very caring nature and desire to help people, which inspired the family to set up this fundraiser.

The hugely successful event, which was called ‘Honey’s Big Birthday Bake Off’, saw family and friends join forces to come together to bake, decorate and box 2,400 cupcakes all in Honey’s memory.

To honour Honey’s memory, the family chose to support the all-Wales Charity that helped them on the day she passed away.

Honey’s mum, Jessica, said: “Honey was a force of nature and was always destined to make a difference in this world. Honey-bee was the most loved of all little girls—before her and after her.

“She filled every inch of space around her with her presence. Her laugh was husky, cheeky, and contagious. Even if her jokes crossed a line, you couldn’t help but laugh—she was hilarious.”

The bake off, which took place in Johnston, was led by Honey’s mother, Jessica Foxx and father Alan French. Family and friends worked around the clock to meet the constant demand for the much-wanted cakes.

Originally, their goal was to sell 100 colourful boxes of six cupcakes, but due to the high demand, they remarkably received 400 orders, which raised an amazing £7,115.

Jessica would like to thank Honey’s brothers, Travis and Felix, who put all their efforts into making Honey’s Big Birthday Bake Off happen, and ‘wonderful couple’ April and Alan Warlow who gave up their home and roped their street into giving up their ovens.

The volunteers on the day described the atmosphere as ‘emotional but electric’, with many working into the early hours to make sure every last cupcake was finished and delivered on time.

Each cake was beautifully decorated with yellow cupcake cases, trays of pink sugar decorations, and box after box was carefully packed and labelled with Honey’s name and a bee-themed tribute.

Reflecting on the huge success of Honey’s Big Birthday Bake Off, a grateful Jessica said: “We’ve cried happy tears doing this for Honey. The support has been overwhelming. I never imagined it would grow this big.

“Honey’s caring nature and desire to help, both fuelled our drive to help the wonderful team at the Wales Air Ambulance.”

Additional fundraising included a raffle and ‘Honey’s Bees Wax Off’, which saw family friend Kevin Higgins undergo a sponsored chest wax in the pub to boost donations.

At Wales Air Ambulance headquarters recently, Honey’s parents presented a cheque for £7,115 to Patient Liaison Nurse Jo Yeoman and Senior Individual Giving Manager Emma Moore. The crew and staff were touched to receive cakes in memory of Honey.

To donate to the Wales Air Ambulance in Honey’s memory, visit www.walesairambulance.com/donate-v2 .