Children and staff from Red Plains Children’s Home in Hartburn, Stockton-on-Tees, have raised almost £1,000 in aid of the Children’s Heart Unit based at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle.
Young people from Red Plains organised a string of fundraising events to reach the sum, and were helped along the way with match-funding from the CareTech Foundation. They wanted to support the Children’s Heart Unit as some staff from the children’s home have family members who are being treated by the unit. The Heart Unit makes life better for children and young people who are born with or develop heart conditions, by providing lifelong support to them and their families.
Events included a charity football match, with the teams made up of staff and young people from three local children’s homes, Red Plains, the Old Vicarage and Fairview. The day was a huge success, not only did people have a great time, but also a total of £465 was raised.
A Christmas stall was also arranged at the local community centre. In preparation, boys from Red Plains spent hours putting together Christmas Eve boxes, making hot chocolate sachets with marshmallows, and many homemade products – bath bombs, Christmas decorations, Christmas cards, Robin decorations and Reindeer dust packets. They spent a lot of time ensuring the gifts looked professional and well presented.
The Children’s Heart Unit kindly supplied some T-shirts and other items, so, with the young people’s help, there was an impressive stall of things to sell in time for Christmas.
The stall was run by one of the children from Red Plains along with a member of staff. It looked fantastic and attracted a lot of attention, raising £150 for the charity. Everyone was very proud of the effort the young people made and they were very pleased to have boosted the total raised so far. They are aware of the difficulties faced by one of the team’s little boy and wanted very much to help.
The CareTech Foundation was pleased to support the young people and staff at Red Plains, Old Vicarage and Fairview and donated £250 through their match funding grant scheme.
However, the team is not done yet …
There is a Charity night planned in the near future, as Middlesbrough Football Club have kindly donated a signed football after hearing about their fantastic fundraising. Then at the end of April, they will be taking part in the World Record Breaking Fire Walk in Newcastle, with some of their young people also joining in. The team see this as an amazing opportunity to help build their confidence and self-esteem as well as raising valuable funds.
Jonathan Freeman, Chief Executive of the CareTech Foundation said:
“The way the young people at Red Plains have worked together to help other children is so uplifting. We were only too pleased to support them in their fantastic efforts for this truly life-changing cause. I wish them every success in reaching their final target.”
So far, the total raised is £866 and it is hoped that they will achieve their £1,000 target at the World Record Breaking Fire Walk in Newcastle, which two young people from the home are taking part in. If you would like to make a donation, please click HERE.