Member Article

Rossendale businesses raise thousands to celebrate Hospice’s anniversary

A group of Rossendale businesses successfully raised over £5,680 for Rossendale Hospice to mark its thirtieth anniversary.

This year Rossendale Hospice is celebrating 30 years of providing specialist care to patients, and their families, with life-limiting conditions.

To commemorate the anniversary the hospice worked with the Rossendale Hospice Corporate Ambassadors Group and invited local companies to get involved in its inaugural Business Challenge. As well as competing for the most funds raised, the businesses were competing for five other award categories.

The Business Challenge, which launched earlier this year, was sponsored by local accountants and business advisers Cassons, part of the Baldwins Group, which has supported the charity for the past four years. The Business Challenge Awards ceremony was kindly hosted by Valley at Work as part of the Rossendale Business Awards.

Firms who pledged to take part in the Business Challenge were given a £50 investment fund and 10 weeks to raise as much money as they could for the hospice, using their entrepreneurial and team building skills.

Head of Fundraising at Rossendale Hospice, Clare Richards, said: “Over the last three decades the demand on hospice services has grown significantly. The cost of providing this care has increased by 603 per cent in the last 20 years alone. Rossendale Hospice now costs just under £1 million a year to run and many families in the valley depend on it.

“The challenge was created not only to raise funds for the hospice but also to bring local businesses together in their support for the Hospice. I would like to say thank you to all of the firms that took part in the challenge and we’re hoping that we can beat the total raised in next year’s challenge.”

The results of the Rossendale Hospice Business Challenge were announced at the Rossendale Business Awards on Wednesday 14 November.

The winners were • Snapper & Hack, also known as Liz Henson Photography and Catherine Smyth Media, won the Rossendale Free Press Award which was the official Rossendale Business award for engagement in CSR • Rossendales Ltd won the Investment Champion category for the most amount raised • Snapper & Hack won the #RossHospice Award, sponsored by Big Tank Promotions, for their use of social media • Chic Boutique Travel won the the Innovator Award, sponsored by Keenan’s Estate Agent because of the innovative use of travel themed fundraising events • HD Signs won the Community Conqueror Award because of the way they used their wider contacts and networks to raise funds, including a raffle • Ivory Beau won the Tiny but Mighty Business Award which went to sole trader Jodie Bulling who used her customers, friends and family to raise as much as she could.

Cassons Managing Partner and Chair of the Rossendale Hospice Corporate Ambassadors Group, Les Nutter, said: “Thanks again to the businesses who took park in the Business Challenge, and thanks to every person who bought raffle tickets and cakes, dressed down and attended events to raise money for the hospice.

“I would like to urge every business owner in the local area to consider how you might be able to play a role in helping the hospice, which does so much to support people in the valley, and for them to sign up to participate in next year’s challenge - we want to raise as much money as we can for this fantastic charity.

“I would urge all businesses to contact the fundraising team at the Hospice and sign up for the business newsletter which will share ideas about how easy it can be to raise funds for Rossendale Hospice. You can email fundraising@RossendaleHospice.co.uk “

To discover more about Rossendale Hospice, visit: www.rossendalehospice.org

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Harvey & Hugo .