A West Yorkshire housebuilder has announced a fundraising drive to raise thousands of pounds to sponsor a nurse for a year at a children’s hospice.
Persimmon Homes West Yorkshire has taken on the challenge to raise £20,000 to fund a nurse at Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.
It’s a commitment the Leeds-based builder has taken very seriously after its employees got behind an intensive 12-month fundraising calendar to help reach the target.
Managing director at Persimmon Homes West Yorkshire, Wayne Gradwell, said: “Since 2012 we have raised more than £14, 000 for the hospice through various employee-led activities. However we now intend to smash this by raising a further £20,000 to achieve our goal.
“After announcing the challenge to my team, many of them came forward with ways in which they could contribute, from taking on the three-peak challenge to running races and baking and hosting tea parties in our marketing suites. It has made me proud to be working with such a caring team.”
Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice supports children with life-shortening conditions and their families across Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.
The charity has to raise £3.2m each year to maintain its services as it receives just four per cent funding from the Government.
The nurses, who are referred to as care co-ordinators by the hospice, provide an invaluable service for both the children and their families who are going through an immensely difficult time. The fully-qualified nurse can visit up to 50 families a week working with other professionals and agencies to offer a variable level of care which best suits the needs of the child and their family.
Ben Feely, corporate fundraiser for Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, said: “This is the first time a business has taken on such a challenge.
“Our care co-ordinators play such a vital role in the charity’s round-the-clock care – it just wouldn’t be possible to provide our services without them. Every day children and their families face immense challenges and our care co-ordinators work hard to provide the support they need to make their lives a little easier.
“We are very grateful to the West Yorkshire Persimmon team and wish them the very best of luck.”