Member Article

Housebuilder shows heart with donation to Essex charity

Persimmon Homes Essex is to donate £1,000 to The Children’s Heart Federation (CHF) in Braintree after selecting the cause as its Community Champion.

CHF applied for the cash as part of Persimmon Homes’ Community Champions initiative with the money going towards the charity’s Molly’s Dollies campaign.

Molly’s Dollies provides young children, who are due to go through heart surgery, with a rag doll individually tailored to have the same scarring as the child post-operation.

The dolls act as an aid for parents, nurses and other healthcare professionals to explain to the child any planned procedures or surgery.

Persimmon’s £1,000 cash donation will pay for 40 bespoke Molly’s Dollies, plus postage and packaging, for young children across the region.

Julie Dallard, from the charity, said: “We are so grateful to Persimmon Homes for their kind donation.

“As a charity we are dedicated to supporting children with congenital or acquired heart disease and their families, aiding with funding, specialist equipment and small grants to help families cover additional expenses, such as travel.

“Molly’s Dollies have proved to be such a successful initiative with youngsters. Children are encouraged to take their doll to their hospital appointments and overnight stays, so the doll can ‘experience’ the operation with them and be a source of company and reassurance.

“£1,000 will provide funding for 40 dolls – providing comfort to many young patients and ease their surgery experience.”

The Persimmon Homes Community Champions initiative invites groups and charities who have already worked hard to raise money themselves to apply for match-funding of up to £1,000 by completing an online form at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity.

Phil Standen, managing director for Persimmon Homes Essex, said: “We were touched by this application. It’s extremely comforting to know that the money donated to The Children’s Heart Federation will help provide comfort to children in what can be a very distressing time.”

To find out more or to apply for funding visit www.persimmonhomes.com/charity.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Natalie Moore .