19 Oct Local businesses raise thousands for St Helena Hospice
Teams from local businesses and community groups were rewarded last week for spending their summers quizzing, golfing and washing cars to raise funds for St Helena Hospice.
This year’s Birkett Long £50 Challenge began on 1st May with each participating team being given £50, which was kindly donated by Birkett Long solicitors. Teams then had 10 weeks to invest, grow and nurture their £50 into as much money as possible for St Helena Hospice.
An awards evening to celebrate their hard work took place on Thursday 13th October at Birkett Long’s office at Amphora Place in Colchester, where it was announced that a staggering £22,034.71 had been raised. This amount could ensure that patients and families in distress receive the expert advice and guidance they need over the phone by keeping St Helena Hospice’s SinglePoint office running for six weeks.
Sixteen teams took part in the challenge this summer: Boydens; Codair Design & Publicity Ltd; Essex Knitters and Stitchers; Fenwick’s Van Dal Shoes department; Harris + Hoole; Horizon Construction Group; Informa; Later Life Lending Solutions; MHA MacIntyre Hudson; Mr O Removals; Nationwide Building Society’s Colchester, Clacton, Dovercourt and Frinton branches; Perfect for Learning; The Peldon Plough; Reeman Dansie; Signace; and Your Claim.
In recognition of their hard work and achievement, all participating teams were given glass star awards and six teams were handpicked by Birkett Long to receive specialist awards:
Best newcomer – Your Claim
Leading fundraiser – Signace
Connecting with the community – The Peldon Plough
Promoting St Helena Hospice – Boydens
Innovation – Mr O Removals
Teamwork – Codair
Jo Clarke, corporate and community senior fundraiser at St Helena Hospice said:
“We’re blown away by the support from local businesses and groups during this year’s £50 Challenge. There has been so much energy from the teams and it’s amazing to see how much fun they’ve all had raising money. We would like to thank everyone who has taken part for their incredible efforts. It’s been great getting to know all of the brilliant teams and we look forward to working with them again in the future.”
Birkett Long chairman, Philip Hoddell, said how proud the legal firm was to support such a good cause:
“St Helena Hospice is a wonderful organisation and we are delighted to have links going back to the very earliest days of it. This is the 10th £50 Challenge that we have sponsored, and so far over £300,000 has been raised. This is thanks to the many local businesses who have given up their time and effort to get involved in the challenge. Like Birkett Long, they are clearly committed to help support their local community and we are very grateful to them for all their hard work.”
To find out more how your organisation or group can support St Helena Hospice, visit sthelena.org.uk/fundraise or contact Jo Clarke by email jclarke@sthelena.org.uk or on 01206 931 468.
