This time last year Churchill committed to get behind local charity The Douglas Macmillan Hospice’s 40th year fundraising drive by pledging to raise £40k in the following 12 months. With almost a full year of fundraising behind them Churchill hosted a lunch to thank its team and supporters and to hand over the final amount of £48,017 to Liz Clarke from the charity. The Churchill team, local suppliers, businesses and Churchill’s customers have all rallied to the cause with a number of activities to help reach and exceed the target.
Thanking the Churchill employees, board, suppliers and customers – Churchill Champion for the project Paul Smith, production director said, “It was a great year of challenges and an unbelievable £48,000 raised, the work-force at Churchill can rightly be proud of what they have achieved by working together. What a fantastic team.”
Liz Clarke on behalf of the Douglas Macmillan Hospice said after the event: “On behalf of the hospice I would like to thank all the employees at Churchill for helping us make our 40th anniversary so memorable. It truly is a commendable team effort to raise over £48,000. I would like to extend a thank you to all who have supported Churchill through their Fundraising Challenge, from running in the relay, to producing over 6,000 mugs, Scafell Pike challenge, bike rides to fundraising at the factory. Every penny raised will ensure the Hospice is able to continue to provide the highest level of care to over 2,700 local people of North Staffordshire facing life limiting illnesses.”
Over 6,000 mugs were produced, to a special ‘Follow your heart’ design with materials provided free of charge by local suppliers, these were then sold in businesses throughout the region. The big challenge was the 48 hour challenge where the factory produced a decorated version of the mug and which was then run in relay by a team of Churchill runners to its London showroom. Cake sales, fancy dress, quizzes and a walk up Scafell Pike all contributed to the total which has seen employees come together to raise valuable funds.
Ann Basnett, the personnel director said: “I don’t think there’s anyone in the city who doesn’t know someone whose life has been touched by the Dougie Mac. But they rely so much on volunteers and donations.”
