A new fundraiser for a Chorley children’s charity is giving old Christmas trees a new lease of life – and raising money for poorly children at the same time.
A team of volunteers helped Derian House Children’s Hospice staff collect more than 200 Christmas trees in return for a donation, raising £2,000 to help look after children with life-limiting conditions.
The trees will be taken to St Annes beach as part of the Fylde Sand Dunes Project, which sees the trees buried to help preserve the dunes and act as a coastal sea defence.
The Christmas trees used in the charity’s own ‘Trees of Love’ fundraiser in which trees were dedicated to supporter’s loved ones will also planted as part of the project to protect the Lancashire coast and its wildlife.
The trees will be sent off to the seaside in February, with help from Lytham St. Annes Skip Hire, and will be dug into the sand by volunteers.
Joe Gillett, Managing Director of Gillett Environmental – Lytham St. Annes Skip Hire, said: “We are thrilled to be supporting Derian House. We think the work Derian House does is life-changing for the families it helps and we’d urge others to get involved to support them. We look forward to continuing to offer our support each year.”
Chorley-based Pilkington Oils and Leyland’s Hurt Plant Hire also stepped in to provide a tree collection service in return for donations to the charity.
Martin Brown, Sales Manager at Pilkington Oils, said: “Being part of the tree recycle was rewarding and we really enjoyed supporting Derian House to raise the funds it needs to keep operating and to say thank you for the work they do.”
Ellie Smith, Community Fundraiser at Derian House, said: “Thank you to everyone who recycled their festive fir and made a donation this year – it will make a huge difference to the families at Derian House. Not just that, but you have helped to protect our local coastline.
“And a huge thanks to all the businesses and volunteers who stepped up to help out. We couldn’t do what we do without our incredible supporters.”
Although care for families is free, it costs Derian House Children’s Hospice £6million to run services every year. With just a small amount of this coming from government funding, the charity relies on the generosity of its supporters for 70p in every pound.
