Eco2Solar set to smash Acorns charity pledge

RENEWABLE energy specialist Eco2Solar is on track to exceed its original charity pledge to Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust, having successfully raised more than £4,500 towards its £5,000 annual target.

The Kidderminster firm has been raising funds to support all three hospices – Birmingham, Black Country and Three Counties – since last autumn after adopting Acorns as its chosen charity of the year.

As well as donating £10 for each solar PV installation completed over the year, Eco2Solar pledged Christmas card money and donated funds from its ‘Making Sense of Green Energy Day’.

The company raised £2,500 of its total by donating a 2kWp system to Barratt’s Charity Sportsman’s Dinner in aid of Acorns last month.

Team members also took part in Acorns’ Santa run and are planning on completing the ‘Free Radio Worcestershire Walk for Kids’ this year.

Paul Hutchens, managing director of Eco2Solar, said: “We are thrilled with our progress so far and now hope to exceed our initial target.”

Currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, Acorns supports over 640 children and more than 910 families, including those who are bereaved.

Irwin Mitchell hands over cheque to help terminally ill

LAWYERS put their fundraising skills to the test over the last year to help raise thousands of pounds for St Mary’s Hospice.

Staff from Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office took part in various fundraising activities including regular bake sales, raffles, competitions and dress down days to raise money for the office’s charity of the year for 2012/13. 

The firm recently handed over a cheque for £10,500 to staff at St Mary’s Hospice in Selly Oak, Birmingham.

Maria Littley, a serious injury expert at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office, said: “Many of our clients, particularly those suffering from asbestos-related diseases, have been cared for by hospice nurses and we see first-hand the difference their specialist care makes to people suffering from a terminal illness and their families, so we are really proud to have raised so much.”

St Mary’s Hospice currently needs nearly £2.5m each year to carry on providing the care that so many people need and the majority of this comes from donations from companies and members of the public.

BHSF sponsors ‘Wonderland’ fund-raiser

BHSF, the healthcare insurer and employee benefits provider, sponsored students from Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, part of Birmingham City University, in their organisation of a family fun day “Wonderland” event for the Make-a-Wish charity.

The fund-raiser was held in St John and St Peter Church in Ladywood, opposite the BHSF head office, and was organised from start to finish by the second year BA Honours students as part of their event management module.

Kate Statham, from BHSF, said: “We were more than pleased to sponsor the Wonderland fun day for not only did it raise funds for children living with life- threatening illnesses but it helped the students in an integral part of their course work.

“The students had a zero budget to put on the event and worked hard to collect prizes, attract sponsors, organise the many stalls and publicise the event.”