Businesses sign up to hospice challenge

Businesses and community groups across Shropshire have been signing up to join Hope House and TÅ· Gobaith children’s hospices £50 Challenge this month. 

Those signed up include Shrewsbury’s RBC Brewin Dolphin, Telford-based Charlton & Jenrick, and Denise & Rick McGowan, from Market Drayton, who have partnered with Oruna Cuisine. 

They have all accepted the challenge of taking £50 and coming up with ways to make that money grow as much as possible in 50 days to support seriously ill local children.  

The first wave of businesses will be starting their challenge on March 6, with a finishing date of April  24. 

Denise McGowan, The Holistic Esthetician, said: “When I spotted the £50 challenge it was a no brainer to take part. I always love a challenge and my entrepreneurial spirit takes over. 

“It’s always good raising money for such a fabulous cause. I decided to ask a local restaurant, The Oruna, to host a charity meal and we’ll be having a raffle on the evening too. I have made three individual Hope House silver pendants which I will use to raise funds too."

There is still time for more businesses and community groups in the area to get involved.  

Fundraiser Bekki Fardoe said: “Starting with an initial £50 investment from us, we encourage and support groups to use their money to fund raise for us by hosting an event or even signing-up to a sponsored sporting challenge to raise as much as possible for local children and families. 

“These events could be anything from a coffee morning to a quiz night that can involve your customers, staff or families, or even using the investment to develop a new product. 

“It’s also a wonderful way to fulfil corporate and social responsibilities and show your community you are passionate about making a difference.” 

Examples of what the charity cash can fund are: 

• £100 could fund a support session for bereaved parents 
• £500 could fund an action-packed sibling support day for brothers and sisters of children in hospice care 
• £1,500 could fund 24hrs of respite care or crisis care for a seriously ill child 

The fundraising team from the hospices will fully support all the teams who sign up and can provide branded materials and even ideas for events. 

All interested teams need to do is nominate a captain and get signed up on the Hope House website at www.hopehouse.org.uk/50challenge.