News
07 July 2009
Rose Day Collections boost fundraising efforts for key HemiHelp projects
Hemiplegia is a neurological condition that weakens one side of the body, and affects up to one child in a thousand. It is sometimes described as a form of cerebral palsy, and the effects are similar to those of a stroke. In order to help support those that suffer with this illness, HemiHelp, a UK based charity, was established in 1990. The organisation not only focuses on helping people with hemiplegia, but it also offers much needed support to their families.
The charity works to provide information to its members in a number of ways and through a variety of different channels, including magazines, telephone support lines and by hosting events that encourage groups of people experiencing the same challenges to come together.
Its fundraising team works tirelessly throughout the year to raise the money that is much needed in order to continue its valuable work. Whilst HemiHelp relies heavily on individual donations, going forward it will also now benefit from the ongoing support of Alexandra Rose Charities (ARC).
To help boost fundraising efforts this year, the HemiHelp team was advised to contact ARC and discuss with them the benefits of becoming a charity partner. By establishing a working relationship with ARC, HemiHelp would then be able to take part in the Rose Day Collections, which are launched each year, in June.
"With limited resources available to us it was brilliant to be introduced to the ARC team and learn more about how they could support our fundraising activities,” said Laura Hurley, Fundraiser at HemiHelp. “The comprehensive website answered my initial questions and then the ARC team worked closely with us to take away the administration nightmares that organising a street collection can often bring. Not only were we able to specify the areas that we ideally wanted to collect in, making it easier for us to recruit a team of collectors on the day, but ARC also took over the responsibility of securing the necessary licences and identification cards and provided us with the collection tools that we needed – all delivered to our door. Pink buckets, stickers, roses, you name it!"
Approaching ARC in May this year, the HemiHelp team had initially been concerned that it would be too late to be associated with this year’s Rose Collections so were very pleased to find out that was not in fact the case. As a result of the ARC team’s dedication to make the collecting process as easy as possible to get involved in, ARC was not only able to respond quickly to help the HemiHelp team get collecting, but as a result of it’s pro-active approach in securing licenses from the local councils and authorities in advance of its collection days, it was also able to offer HemiHelp a number of licenses across a series of London’s mainline stations. HemiHelp’s team of 4 decided to settle at Victoria Station.
"From the start of the process, to the close of our collecting day, working with the team at Alexandra Rose Charities was just wonderful,” continued Hurley. “Without their support this opportunity to raise funds would have been lost and we’re very grateful for all the help that they gave us – no question or concern was too much trouble for them to either answer or address. We felt like they were a true extension of our own team."
HemiHelp were delighted to raise over £400 in just six hours. The funds will help towards projects such as the planned expansion and development of the helpline, and support the schedule of fun days and workshops.
For more information on HemiHelp please visit: www.hemihelp.org.uk