Supporters of Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospices have raised an incredible £471,613 in just 36-hours for its Quality Moments Matter campaign.
Smashing through the initial target of £400,000 the announcement was made at the charity’s Big Night Live event, held at Chester Town Hall on Monday night and broadcast over YouTube to cheers and applause.
Every £1 raised in donations from the public on 17th and 18th November has been doubled thanks to match funding from local businesses with the money being used to bring fun and joy to the lives of every local child with a life-threatening condition.
From a 24-hour dance-a-thon and relay runs, coffee mornings and bake sales, school dress up days, special events in the charity shops including fashion shows, and a variety of other challenges, supporters turned out in force to support Quality Moments Matter.
Alison Marsh, Head of Fundraising, said: “We want all local children with life-threatening conditions to have access to adventures and the chance to giggle, play and thrive.
“To never be told that things are impossible because they are ill, but instead to be surrounded by specialist nurses and therapists who help them to overcome challenges and provide opportunities to have the best quality of life possible.
“Thanks to all the amazing support from our community we raised more than our initial Quality Moments Matter target of £400,000, which is incredible. We are so grateful to each and every person and business who helped make this campaign a huge success. It really does mean the world to us.”
Rhiannon Jones, whose son Axel featured in a video for the campaign, said of the importance of the hospices: “There’s nowhere else Axel can come and have fun which made is just for him – whether it’s simply banging a drum, doing some art in the play room, having a sing song with the staff or laughing as he goes down the slide or on the swings on the playground outside, or joining in at the Sunshine Group. It’s just magical.
“He has also had some experiences like going on the canal trips, seeing all the amazing Christmas lights at the hospice’s winter wonderland, meeting Santa who landed in a helicopter and getting to see and touch all the animals that come in for special visits.
“There is nowhere else that creates those memories for us. Thank you so much for everyone who donated to Quality Moments Matter and helps the hospices be here for children like Axel.”
