CHARITABLE folk in Warwickshire were able to go the distance for a children’s hospice charity with an Olympic lockdown fund-raiser.
Employees, from Tiddington-based insurer NFU Mutual, ran an Olympic themed fund-raiser for employees during lockdown in aid of Acorn Children’s Hospice. The fund-raiser challenged the team to cover some 5,800 miles – the distance the Olympics Torch would have travelled had the games gone ahead this summer.
The challenge – taken up by over 30 employees – raised nearly £1,200.
Acorns Children’s’ Hospice has been the chosen charity of NFU Mutual’s Financial Services team since the start of 2019. The team has run several fund-raising events in that time, including online quiz and bingo nights, sponsored fancy dress days and ‘donate your lunch money’ days. A raffle is currently being organised, and will be encouraging other local businesses to donate prizes.
Organiser Laura Morris said: “The pandemic has made it more challenging to run our usual fund-raising activities, but we wanted to organise something that would both benefit the local community and allow us to help employees to get out and about to support their mental and physical wellbeing.
“The uptake has been fantastic and we extended the challenge after quickly coming up on our fundraising and distance targets. We hope that the donation will help Acorn Children’s Hospice to continue to provide their vital support at this challenging time.”
Acorns spokeswoman Mel Hall added: “We’re honoured to be the charity of choice of NFU Mutual’s Financial Services team and we’re extremely grateful to them for raising this fantastic amount towards our vital care.
“The fund-raiser was such an imaginative idea and thank you so much to everyone who took part – the money you have raised will go directly to the local children and family who rely on Acorns care and support, all year round.”
Acorns has been at the forefront in the battle against coronavirus, providing hospice care and support to the most vulnerable families, as well as coordinating deliveries of food and essentials to isolated families at the height of the crisis.
It costs the charity almost £11 million every year to continue its care across the West Midlands – the bulk of which comes from donations and fund-raising.
Visit www.acorns.org.uk for more information.
