NRL Heysham take on 50-50-500 hospice challenge
In the coming weeks, our Heysham branch will be aiming to make a difference for their local St John’s Hospice, as they take on the 50-50-500 charity challenge.
The hospice has been helping local residents across North Lancashire, the South Lakes and parts of North Yorkshire for 38 years, and it’s a charity close to the hearts of our Heysham team. So, when the hospice announced their new 50-50-500 challenge, colleagues were keen to work together to show their support by signing up.
A total of 50 local businesses will aim to raise £500 each, with just 50 days to reach their fundraising target. It’s an initiative that saw over £35k raised last year by businesses who took part, and our Heysham team will be working with the EDF Energy teams at Heysham 1 and 2 power stations in a joint effort to boost fundraising for the hospice. With it taking £6.5 million each year to run the hospice, challenges like this play an important role in fundraising much needed money to help local residents and their families continue to benefit from the fantastic support the hospice provides.
Preparing for the challenge
Branch Administrator Jo Stabler has volunteered to be the co-ordinator for the charity challenge, and colleagues across the branch are helping to draw up plans on how to smash the £500 fundraising target. A competitive bunch, they’re planning two events to raise money, the first a quiz night and secondly a more strenuous sponsored hike.
Coined ‘Not Just a Quiz Night, Night’, fundraising will kick off on Friday 3rd May, when they are joined by EDF Energy to host a quiz night at the local Mazuma stadium, home of Morecambe FC – who are generously providing the function room free of charge for the night. As well as the quiz there are also plans for a prize draw, thanks to donations from local businesses.
Tickets cost £20 per person, which includes a traditional football pie and peas hot buffet supper. They can be purchased by contacting jo.stabler@nrl.co.uk or calling 01524 865 543, and a maximum of 5 people can join together to make a team.
The quiz night will be followed by a hike around the Elterwater circular route in Cumbria on Saturday 11th May, covering the 6.9km walk to increase donations from friends and family – and hopefully some generous bystanders as they make their way around the trail along the River Brathay.
50 days to make £500
The challenge officially commenced on Friday 1st April, and local businesses have until 7th June to make as much money as possible for St John’s Hospice when the klaxon sounds and the challenge comes to an end – all aiming to reach and surpass the £500 fundraising goal.
Getting ready to raise money
Ahead of the event, Jo says the branch are in high spirits,
“We’re really looking forward to getting the fundraising underway, and the all-important job of putting the questions together for the quiz. We’re hoping for a fantastic turnout, to allow us to raise as much money as possible on the night and are grateful for the support of the EDF teams on Heysham 1 and 2 power stations who are keen to be involved with the charity challenge. It’s shaping up to be a great evening.
Following a night of fun at the Mazuma stadium, things will get a little more serious as we prepare to take on our charity hike in Cumbria. We’re hoping for good weather on the day, but know we’ll still manage to find a little humour even if the weather turns, pushed on by knowing we’re helping to raise money for a fantastic hospice that provides so much care and support for the local community and our own families.”
Get involved by donating
If you’re impressed by our Heysham team’s fundraising efforts for St John’s Hospice, then you can get involved by making a donation on their JustGiving page: