Companies have been making a real difference to the lives of seriously ill children in their community by helping to raise more than £100,000 and pledging to become our first ever Business Champions.

Introduced at the end of 2020 firms can become a Business Champion by pledging a donation, which will go towards helping us support the children and their families that need us the most.

The pandemic has had a huge effect on our finances, with traditional fundraising events having to be cancelled and shops being closed.

How the Champions have helped

The financial pressures of the last year has meant we face a £1.25 million shortfall in income to date, while there are additional requirements for things like PPE and increased staffing levels, and so the Business Champion initiative was born.

The first cohort of Business Champions have pledged to directly helping to fund some of the costs for our hospices, with a £100,000 being raised so far.

Cat Dowdeswell, fundraiser, said: “The hospices need 12 specialist masks and 12 gowns in any one 24-hour period for every child being cared for. This equates to a cost of £78 for each child, per day.

“We invited businesses to become a Champion by initially donating £780 which could cover the cost of 10 days PPE for one child's stay.

“The response has been overwhelming, with a good number of business donating more than the £780, we are extremely grateful to all those businesses that have got on board supported us in this way, it really is making a difference.”

You can see a full list of our Business Champions here

Mel Herman, Vice Chairman of the club, said: “There are an estimated 640 children in North Wales with life limiting conditions and the North Wales Business Club wanted to help those in most need.

“The North Wales Business Club are delighted to have been able to support them during these difficult times and honoured to be made Business Champions.”

Warren Hadlow, Senior Partner at Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management in Wrexham, said: “For Hadlow Edwards, supporting the local community and staying close to our roots is an important part in our staff and wider business's personality.

“Hope House Children’s Hospices is a fantastic charity that supports our local community for those in need, therefore we take great pride in ensuring we can help them to do so.”

Sean Dean, CEO of Welshpool-based Invertek said: “When Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd acquired Invertek in 2019, we not only bought a great company but one that is intrinsically linked to the community.

“Becoming a Business Champion is a pleasure, and is a way we can pay back in some small part to the local community.”

Andrew Goddard, joint executive chairman of Paterson Enterprises, parent company of Morris Lubricants and Morris Leisure, said: “We wanted to help Hope House Children's Hospices which is experiencing the same difficult fundraising challenges.

“We are delighted to become a Business Champion, which is a fantastic initiative, and are very proud to be doing our bit to help the incredible people who care for and support children and their families at the hospices.”

Graham Anwyl, chairman of Ewloe-based Anwyl Homes, said: “We’re very proud to be one of the founding Champions.

“The wonderful hospices and other services provide exceptional care for children and their families in their time of greatest need.

“The Covid pandemic has led to many charities facing a funding crisis and right now they need our support more than ever.

“It means so much to us as a family business to support Hope House Children’s Hospices, which is close to the hearts of many of our colleagues and our local communities.”

Mark Watkin Jones, Chief Executive Officer at Watkin Property Ventures Limited, said: "Watkin Property Ventures are delighted to become a Business Champion.

"The charity provides an incredible service to children, young adults and their wider families in the most difficult of circumstances and we are so pleased that the company and our staff are able to assist this worthwhile cause and support our local community."

Every year Business Champions will make a pledge towards a specific need, and know that every pound they donate will go towards making sure our hospices can continue to support those that need us the most.