Rochester charity Holding On Letting Go (HOLG) has started 2023 celebrating a £20,000 milestone with one of their corporate sponsors.
Since June 2020, Harrisons Homes estate agency in Sittingbourne has donated £50 from every sale completion as part of its ongoing support for HOLG, which supports bereaved children and their families across Kent and SE London. Led by managing director Chris Ellis, the team bolstered their efforts by arranging sponsored walks, bike rides, raffles and a Christmas appeal, helping to double their original target of £10,000, which was achieved in May 2021.
The funds raised will go toward towards the support HOLG gives to the children, families and schools they work with, which includes advice, bereavement support weekends, and parent and carer groups for families where a child has been affected by the death of someone close. Families facing a terminal diagnosis can also be supported before a bereavement occurs.
Holding On Letting Go CEO Caroline Ford said:
“Harrisons Homes has raised an amazing £20,257.30, which to us, means we can run at least four bereavement support weekends, to support up to 80 grieving children and young people in their bereavement. What’s most remarkable about their support, however, is that this is part of a continuous commitment to HOLG.
“Knowing that we have an ongoing income makes an incredible difference to the help we can provide. It gives a sense of security, the ability to plan ahead, and the confidence that we can continue to support families who need our help.
“We are hugely grateful to the whole Harrisons Homes team and hope that they inspire other businesses to consider supporting us, either with one-off events, as their charity of the year or in other ways; we have very strong relationships with our corporate supporters who not only help us with fundraising but helps to raise awareness of our work, too.
Harrisons MD Chris Ellis explains why he and his team chose to commit to supporting HOLG, “To me, family is everything and I was fortunate enough to have a lovely upbringing, untouched by bereavement, with my family around me.
It’s heart breaking that some children have to cope with the loss of a parent, sibling, or friend – and it’s something I struggle to get my head around.
We can’t prevent childhood bereavement, but what we can do, is support Holding On Letting Go, because whilst it doesn’t bring back their loved one, or take away their grief, the fantastic work this charity does helps children to navigate their loss and gives them a childhood back.
They really do help them to let go of the sad memories and hold on to the good ones – and their work has a lifetime effect.”
If your business would like to support HOLG, email fundraising@holg.org.uk
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