A FUN-LOVING Halesowen family staged a Grand National sweepstake and raised more than £1.2k for Russells Hall Hospital.

Kate and Stuart Mcfarlane didn't let the fact that they couldn't leave home amidst the coronavirus crisis stop them joining with friends and family to enjoy the virtual race on Saturday.

The couple, who live on Causey Farm with their children Jude, age 10, Megan, nine and Nancy, five, (pictured below) held a sweepstake on WhatsApp as well as a fancy dress competition to get people into the spirit.

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Stay-at-home-mum Kate, aged 34, said: "It was fantastic.

"I thought we would sell about 40 tickets and raise £500, but people kept asking for more.

"We had a Whatsapp group and everyone was dressed up - everyone rose to the occasion and fun was had by all!

"Our children helped us film the drawers.

"Most importantly we raised a fantastic £1,250 which will be going straight to Russells Hall Hospital.

"It was nice to have some light relief in such a worrying time."

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(Above: Emmet Murphy, aged 2)

Kate said Stuart, aged 41, who is managing director of a renewable energy firm and is working from home, is a big fan of horse racing.

The couple's children attend Our Lady and St Kenelm's School in Halesowen.

Kate's dad Martin Sylvester, aged 63, underwent a stem cell transplant at the QE for lymphoma cancer at Christmas and is currently self-isolating at home in Halesowen with his wife Josephine and daughter Lorna Sylvester (pictured below).

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He has also been treated at Russells Hall Hospital in his four-year long battle with cancer.

The couple charged £20 a ticket for the sweepstake and gave prizes of £150 for the winner and £100 for second place, with £75, £50 and £24 prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in the fancy dress competition.

The fancy dress competition winner was Daniel Andrew as Sausage Roll! (pictured below)

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Some winners donated their prizes back to the hospital fund.