{"id":293,"date":"2011-05-06T11:39:47","date_gmt":"2011-05-06T09:39:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ceidiog.com\/pr\/?p=293"},"modified":"2019-04-24T11:52:17","modified_gmt":"2019-04-24T09:52:17","slug":"more-dough-for-childrens-hospice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ceidiog.com\/pr\/news\/more-dough-for-childrens-hospice\/","title":{"rendered":"More dough for children’s hospice"},"content":{"rendered":"

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One of the UK\u2019s oldest bakeries has risen to a new challenge \u2013 raising money for a children\u2019s hospice charity.<\/p>\n

The Wrexham-based Gerrards bakery is a supporter of the Hope House and Ty Gobaith hospices.<\/p>\n

The family-run firm presented a cheque for \u00a3726 to fundraiser Rachel Jones after selling more than 2,900 specially baked gingerbread biscuits in their 15 shops.<\/p>\n

Established in 1838, Gerrards is run by husband and wife, Dirk and Dawn van Rensburg, who were inspired to help the hospice charity after going on a visit to see what they do at first hand.<\/p>\n

Dirk said: \u201cA children\u2019s hospice certainly puts everything else into perspective – we really don\u2019t know how lucky we are.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is really important that people continue to give money to them because we must make sure that these children are made to feel comfortable, by creating an environment that is as pleasant as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are many good causes but few are better than Hope House and Ty Gobaith and we were delighted to be able help once again.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany people might be surprised to learn that the hospice is a very happy place and a wonderful caring environment with brilliant staff.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a much-needed facility. It is really important for parents that the right support and facilities are available if their children become ill.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to hospice fundraiser Rachel Jones, the support of companies like Gerrards was vital – especially in the current economic climate.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cIt costs us over \u00a34 million to keep our doors open and run all the services in the hospices and the families\u2019 own homes.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf that, we get 30 days\u2019 funding from the Government, the NHS and other statutory bodies which means that over 95 per cent of our funding comes from voluntary income.<\/p>\n

\u201cTouch wood we are doing very well but it is thanks to companies like Gerrards who are backing us that we are able to keep going.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the past couple of years, Gerrards have taken part in our Corporate Challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe give \u00a350 each to companies and we challenge them to see what they can do with that investment.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cThis year Gerrards have raised \u00a3726 which is a phenomenal return on the \u00a350 \u2013 the customers got a tasty treat while supporting their local children\u2019s hospice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe cover the whole of North and Mid Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have 400 families on our books and 270 of them have a child using one of our two hospices, Hope House, near Oswestry, or Ty Gobaith, near Conwy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe other 130 are bereaved families who are using our counselling and support services.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cWe provide respite for terminally ill children and their families and we do a lot of work with the extended families. brothers and sisters, and we provide a lot of counselling support for mums and dads as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have now become so expert at speaking to families over the years that we now actually get referrals from the NHS, Social Services and the emergency services to care for families who have lost a child in any circumstance \u2013 be it a cot death, a fire, a suicide or road traffic accident.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can take that family on our books and give them bereavement support for as long as they need us after the death of the child.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere isn\u2019t another service in the area that can provide the long-term care plans that we can.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are open 24\/7 on 365 days a year and we don\u2019t charge a penny for our services.\u201d<\/p>\n

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