Together for Short lives lit up landmarks across London last night (25 October) with their trademark butterfly in a bid to attract the attention of Morrisons employees.
The UK charity is calling on Morrisons staff to make good things happen for families caring for seriously ill children, by voting for Together for Short Lives as their new charity partner.
Voting will end on 27 October, so they have just 24 hours left to change lives.
By putting a spotlight on major locations like Marble Arch, Together for Short Lives hopes to gain the attention of Morrisons’ staff, so they too can shine a light on UK’s 99,000 seriously ill children and their families, and the lifeline children’s hospices they rely on.
Out of more than 100 charities to apply, a relatively small charity with a big heart, Together for Short Lives, has made it into the final two charities to be the supermarket giant, Morrisons, charity partner. The result is decided by a Morrisons staff vote and the winning charity will enter a three-year partnership aiming to raise around £10 million.
A partnership between Morrisons and Together for Short Lives would be transformational – raising vital funds for children’s hospices across the UK so they can provide a lifeline for families with a child who will die young.
A partnership with Morrisons and Together for Short Lives would impact on local children’s hospices such as Keech Hospice care in Luton. The hospice supports children like Amelia, who was diagnosed with a rare life-limiting condition when she was just two and a half weeks old. Amelia’s mother Emily has found coming to the hospice a great support and a lifeline.
“Going to Keech for the first time was a big turning point for me, it was from then that I got even more strength to cope and just be with my family. When your child has a life-limiting illness every day is a struggle. You are met with sheer joy that can suddenly be turned into pain and hurt in a second. But Keech are always on hand.”
Andy Fletcher Chief Executive at Together for Short Lives highlights the difference this partnership would make.
“Families of seriously ill children are pushed to their limits every day. Their local children’s hospice provides them with the time and space they need to make precious memories that last a lifetime – the chance to be parents, not carers. At the same time, children’s hospices are struggling to meet demand, as the number of seriously ill children in the UK is growing, meaning more families are having to cope alone. A partnership with Morrisons will make good things happen – enabling hospices to provide lifeline support to even more families who need them right in the heart of our community”.
