Shoppers are being encouraged to keep giving generously during the final weeks of a campaign to fund hydrotherapy sessions for families receiving care from East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
The Help Hydrotherapy Happen campaign is currently running in EACH’s 49 shops across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.
When paying at the till, customers are being given the option to donate an extra 25p and, throughout August alone, shoppers raised nearly £7,000.
The campaign continues until the end of this month and hopes are high of smashing the original target of £9,000.
“We’ve been blown away by the success of our campaign, which continues to forge ahead at a great pace,” said EACH’s Retail Central Support Manager, Genine Woodcock.
“Customers have been incredibly generous and really embraced the idea, digging deep to raise a phenomenal amount.
“There have been some great individual shop figures, but, needless to say, we’ve got the bit between our teeth now.
“The more we raise, the more hydro sessions we can fund for the children and families receiving our care and support.
“Hopefully, with the continued support of our wonderful customers, we can keep the momentum going, shatter our initial expectations and reflect on an equally spectacular September.”
The total raised during the first month of the campaign was a whopping £6,856. After the first week of September, that figure had shot up to £8,306.
Every shop is aiming to raise £23 a week and the initial target of £9,000 was set because that would be enough to fund a hydrotherapy session every week for the next 12 months.
EACH has pools at each of its hospices – at Milton, near Cambridge, The Nook, near Norwich, and The Treehouse, in Ipswich.
They are warmer than recreational pools and allow families to take a dip together in a private, safe and supportive environment.
“From a child’s perspective, spending time in the pool can help reduce pain, increase flexibility and mobility, stimulate senses and improve balance,” added Genine.
“It’s a wonderful way to enable special memories for families.”
