A Wearside hospice is gearing up for a packed summer of fund-raising with the help of a new big-name sponsor.
Motor retailer Wearside Audi in Sunderland has pledged its support to St Benedict’s Hospice and has become a ‘Team Benedict Sponsor’ as its staff get ready for a range of fund-raising activities over the coming months.
These include the hospice’s ‘Sunflower Day’ on June 21st, which will see it brighten up the whole of Sunderland by encouraging businesses, schools and community groups to wear yellow.
Staff are also training hard for this year’s Great North Run, having just completed the annual Sunderland 10K.
The motor dealership, which is part of the Lookers group, was prompted to support the hospice after members of its staff formed personal links to its services.
It is estimated that 1 in 3 people in Sunderland have had their lives touched in some part by the wonderful work carried out at the hospice.
St Benedict’s has provided specialist palliative care to the people of Sunderland and surrounding districts since 1984. Care is provided by the NHS as part of South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust and is also supported by St. Benedict’s Hospice charity.
Its range of care provision includes day services, out-patients, care in the home, hospital or care home support, as well as in-patient beds.
The team at Wearside Audi will also be raising additional funding for the hospice by hosting a charity barbeque on ‘Sunflower Day’ at its dealership on Newcastle Road, Sunderland, with both staff and customers welcome to come along and take part.
Richard Hyde, Head of Business at Wearside Audi, said: “We are proud to be supporting the hospice in its wide range of fund raising activities. Lookers has a long history of giving back to the communities in which it serves and St Benedict’s is a prime example of an organisation that has helped so many families in their hour of need, some of whom work right here in our Wearside dealership.”
Anthony McDermott, Head of Corporate Relationships at the hospice, said: “We have a lot planned this year and are always looking for corporate sponsorship to help drum up support. Wearside Audi is a key part of the business community in Sunderland and we are really pleased that they have agreed to sponsor us over the coming two years. I’m sure the extra support will spur our runners on to beat their personal bests at this year’s Great North Run.”
