Families with seriously ill children in Greater Manchester are among the beneficiaries of a successful £10 million fundraising partnership between Morrisons and the children’s palliative care charity, Together for Short Lives. The three-year partnership has raised vital funds for children’s hospices across the UK, with Francis House Children’s Hospice in Didsbury, Manchester, receiving nearly £120,000, an amount set to increase to £200,000 as final donations come in.
Francis House, which provides specialised care to over 600 families in the north west with children who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, has used the funds to support families in need of respite. David Ireland, chief executive of Francis House, expressed gratitude to Morrisons staff and customers for their generous support.
“My thanks to Morrisons on behalf of the children, young people, and families of Francis House. Everything you did to raise money will help these families,” he said. “Parents can come here to relax, and the whole family is cared for. Siblings, too, know they are just as important as the poorly child and are looked after. Receiving £119,000 was something I never imagined could happen.”
The fundraising efforts were coordinated across 20 local Morrisons stores in the north west. Throughout the partnership, Morrisons staff have taken part in various activities to raise funds, including sponsored walks, zip wires, runs, in-store games, and charity collections. Community Champions from several Morrisons stores recently attended a celebration event at the Didsbury hospice, where they were thanked for their contributions.
Julie Williams, senior fundraising officer at Francis House, highlighted the close ties that developed between the hospice and the Morrisons team. “Thank you, Morrisons, for a wonderful partnership. We not only worked together to support Francis House but also became friends. I have loved working with you all and visiting your stores alongside our mascot, Francis Mouse,” she said.
Across the UK, the partnership has enabled Together for Short Lives to provide thousands of hours of care, reach new families through community outreach, and purchase essential equipment for hospices. Nick Carroll, CEO of Together for Short Lives, acknowledged the transformative impact of the partnership: “The Morrisons partnership has allowed us to raise millions for children’s hospices across the UK, like Francis House, which is a lifeline to seriously ill children and their families. We are extremely grateful to Morrisons colleagues and customers.”
Among the standout contributions was the £27,000 raised by staff at Morrisons Cheadle, who were awarded a gold butterfly from Together for Short Lives in recognition of their efforts. Melina Johnson, from the Cheadle branch, described the personal connection she and her colleagues felt with Francis House. “The relationship with Julie and the team from Francis House made it easier to work together,” she said. “It made it more personal knowing we were raising money for local families.”
Alison Cox from Morrisons Dukinfield, who raised £780 after crossing Salford Quays on a zip wire, shared her experience of visiting the hospice. “I was frightened at first, but once I toured the hospice, my apprehension disappeared. It didn’t feel like a sad place; it felt like a home,” she said. “Everyone I met was happy. It’s been a fabulous partnership, like a family.”
The Morrisons and Together for Short Lives partnership has created cherished memories for over 6,000 family members and continues to make a significant impact across the UK, providing crucial support to hospices like Francis House and the families they serve. For more information on Francis House visit www.francishouse.org.uk
