Twenty one teams from local businesses and community groups are on their way to raising thousands of pounds for St Helena Hospice, as the annual Birkett Long £50 Challenge gets underway today.
At the starting line event at St Helena Hospice’s fundraising office today, each team was given £50, kindly donated by Birkett Long solicitors. The teams now have 50 days, until 16th July, to invest, grow and nurture their £50 into as much money as possible for the charity.
Becky Rix, Virtual Ward clinical nurse manager at St Helena Hospice, was at the launch to meet some of the teams picking up their starting £50 note, and said:
“Being a part of the planning and delivering of care at a patient’s end of life, is something that I see as a privilege. I witness day to day the difference that St Helena services make to help support and advise patients and their loved ones at a difficult time.
“Having 24 hour support is of great comfort and I often hear people say that when no other services are available, they feel at ease knowing that SinglePoint is there to help.
“Without vital funds from fundraising initiatives like the Birkett Long £50 Challenge, we would be unable to continue to provide this support for our community.
“We are grateful for all the help from the public and businesses in raising money so that we can continue to provide end of life care at home and at the Hospice.”
James Martin-Whymark, corporate fundraiser at St Helena Hospice, said:
“Our much loved annual £50 Challenge has become an icon in the St Helena calendar. It’s something we all look forward to each year, and the unwavering support we receive from Birkett Long is hugely appreciated.
“In 2022 our wonderful £50 Challenge participants raised more than £22,000 to help local people face incurable illness and bereavement, which was simply fantastic.
“This year we’re aiming even higher by inviting and encouraging our 21 teams, which include local businesses and community groups, to get creative and tap into their entrepreneurial skills.
“We know times are tough, but we also know just how brilliant St Helena supporters are.”
The teams have all sorts of creative fundraising plans up their sleeves to be the team who raises the most and they will unveil them as the challenge progresses.
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Birkett Long chairman Philip Hoddell welcomed the 2023 launch, and said:
“We have been delighted to support such a great fundraising effort since the very first year in 2015. Thanks to the hard work and generosity of local businesses, over £300,000 has been raised for St Helena Hospice since then.
“Birkett Long has an association with the charity which dates all the way back to its early days, and this fundraiser is one of the ways in which we are pleased to support such a worthy cause.”
The businesses and groups taking part this year are:
Barclays; Codair Design & Publicity Ltd; Essex Knitters and Stitchers; Fenwick; Fenwick/Van Dal Shoe Dept; Holmes & Hills; Horizon; Informa; Later Life Lending; mha Macintyre Hudson; Morgan Sindall Construction; Reeman Dansie; St Helena Brightlingsea shop; St Helena Finance and P&C department; St Helena fundraising & lottery; St Helena maintenance; St Helena retail; Stanley Bragg Architects; Tails of Wigborough; Wrabness Community Shop; Your Claim.
