Staff at Morrisons stores on the Fylde coast have been raising money along with colleagues from across the UK to raise more than £2.6 million for the country’s children’s hospices, including Brian House Children’s Hospice.
Staff at Morrisons stores on the Fylde coast have been raising money along with colleagues from across the UK to raise more than £2.6 million for the country’s children’s hospices, including Brian House Children’s Hospice.
Morrisons, which has stores in Blackpool, Cleveleys and Kirkham, has a three-year partnership with children’s hospice charity Together for Short Lives. The supermarket giant announced its impressive total for the first year of their fundraising, which will go be split between all children’s hospices in the UK, including Brian House.
Together for Short Lives is the UK charity supporting the UK’s children’s hospices, including Brian House, and families facing the heartbreak that their child will die young.
Morrisons customers and suppliers have supported the charity through cash donations in store and online, and by purchasing products involved in the supermarket’s biggest year yet ‘Every Pack Gives Back’ initiative raising £763,368.
Colleagues at Morrisons stores across the country have also been raising vital funds in many different ways, from in-store fundraisers to sky-dives and treks, with many of the activities being match funded by the Morrisons Foundation which supports colleagues in raising money for charities including Together for Short Lives.
The money raised so far can help pay for:
• 1,608 families to have respite care at their local hospice, giving them time together as a family
• 9 multi-sensory rooms, equipped with fibre optics, mirrors, lights and bubble tubes so that children can have a special sensory play experience
• 129 seriously ill children to have a special day out to make precious memories, as families know that one day they will be facing their last together
• 4 Community Support Workers to reach thousands more families that need essential care and help.
• 400 families to benefit from Together for Short Lives Cost of Living Support Fund, to help ease the burden of families’ rising bills and keep life-sustaining equipment running.
Janet Atkins, Corporate Partnerships Manager for Brain House Children’s Hospice, said: “It has been a wonderful year getting to know the charity champions at Blackpool, Kirkham and Cleveleys, and supporting the fundraising in their stores.
“Their efforts mean so much to us here at Brian House, helping us to care for our area’s most fragile children and relieving some of the pressure their families feel while caring for a life-limited child.
“We are so impressed by the amount raised this year by Morrisons teams across the country, and look forward to working with them more through Together for Short Lives over the next two years.”
Together for Short Lives CEO, Andy Fletcher said: “We’re so thankful to Morrisons colleagues, customers and suppliers for their incredible fundraising efforts in the first year of our partnership! Thanks to your fundraising, Together for Short Lives can make a lasting difference to the lives of families cared for by your local children’s hospice, and help families treasure every moment they have together.”
Morrisons CEO, David Potts said: “We're delighted to have raised over £2.6 million in the first year of our partnership with Together for Short Lives. Our colleagues and customers have gone above and beyond to raise vital funds for local children's hospices so that they can continue to provide vital support to families caring for their seriously ill child.”