College Raises £500 for Zoe’s Place
26 February 2010
A cheque for £500 was presented by Marie Taylor from the College, during a visit to Zoe’s Place by a group of staff and students from the College.
The College adopted Zoe’s Place as the beneficiary of its Christmas fund-raising actvities.
“Every year the College has a number of activities around Christmas time to raise funds for a worthwhile cause, and this year we decided that the funds raised should go to Zoes’s Place, in recognition of the wonderful work that they do in Middlesbrough”, said Martin Peagam, Assistant Principal.
The funds were raised by various means. Students, staff and visitors to the College were able to have a Star Blessing placed on the College’s Christmas Tree, there was a staff quiz, and the College made a donation representing the money it saved by sending out electronic Christmas Cards rather than paper ones.
“It is so wonderful to see the great work going on here”, said Marie Taylor. “The staff do a wonderful job caring for these children. It has really brought home to us how important our fund-raising is to these youngsters”.
People expect a hospice to be a really sad place, but Zoë's Place has such a happy environment. It is full of children singing, clapping and painting and getting on with things. The children are wonderful and don't let anything get to them. It makes me feel pretty humble.
Liz Jacobs, Corporate Appeals Director
Zoë's Place is a home from home for babies who have life limiting or terminal illnesses, special and complex needs to varying degrees. It can take up to six infants at any one time, there is also accommodation and ample facilities for the whole family if these are needed. It offers palliative and respite care for babies/infants from birth to five years old. The services can be accessed free of charge by families who have a child with a life limiting condition, special or complex needs.
Zoë's Place receives very little Government funding and it costs around £800,000 a year to keep it running. It requires the help of volunteers, members of the public, companies, organisations and charitable foundations to help us raise the necessary funding to allow it to keep providng its valuable services.
Liz Jacobs Corporate Appeals Director believes the struggle is worthwhile in order to help scores of families who are trying to cope with poorly children and every day life.