Back in 2019, we created Play 4 All, a bespoke business challenge made especially for businesses who want to get behind Bristol Children’s Hospital.
The aim: to raise £1,000 each and a collective £25,000 in one year to support some of our region’s sickest children through sensory play.
What is sensory play?
Hospital can be a scary place for any child. That’s where Marius, our Sensory Play Practitioner, comes in.
His dedicated sensory play room is home to an array of special equipment – from a water bed to fibre optic lights and its own garden – that can help children with their treatment while providing an escape from the traditional hospital setting.
Moreover, sensory play is an essential part of a child’s development. Marius will work with a range of patients who have a developmental delay or additional needs.
It’s these very children our Play 4 All partners have helped. We caught up with Adam from Lloyd Wells Mortgages, one of our participants in 2020, to hear what they had to say about being a part of Play 4 All.
“When my business partner Pete and I set up Lloyd Wells Mortgages, we knew we wanted to give something back. We spoke to a number of charities but settled on The Grand Appeal after finding out about the work they do. We were astonished.
“It dawned us, that one day it could be our family or our friend’s that needed The Grand Appeal’s help. Pete had just started his family and although I don’t have children myself, I have three amazing nieces so it just made sense.
“£1,000 seemed like an achievable goal. Pete and I set about making a plan to raise the funds, but then the pandemic hit. Understandably, all the running events I had signed up to were postponed or changed.
“The Great Bristol 10k and Half Marathon went virtual. I managed to pick the wettest day of the year to complete my virtual half marathon. Not a wise decision, but this wasn’t about me. It was about the children still undergoing treatment through a pandemic.
“Pete’s hoping his Iron Man and Tour De Bristol challenge will return for 2021. Despite the challenges, it fills us with happiness to know we’ve helped in some small way.
“After smashing our target of £1000 in 2020, we’ve decided to continue as a Play 4 All partner. That means more fundraising for us in 2021, hopefully through more traditional events. Personally, I’ve got my eye on The Grand Appeal’s sponsored skydive. It’s always been a dream of mine, but I’ve got to convince the rest of the team!
“We’ve really enjoyed being a part of Play 4 All. We’d encourage anyone to join us in raising money for Bristol Children’s Hospital. At the end of the day, it’s all about helping sick children and their families in their lowest moments. If we can help in any way possible, it’s got to be worth it!”
Do you think your business could raise £1,000 in one year? If the answer is ‘yes’ why not join Lloyds Wells Mortgages and be a part of our corporate community?
Get in touch with Katie, our Partnerships Fundraising Executive, to become a Play 4 All partner.
Partnerships Fundraising Executive
Katie Soane
Katie supports our wonderful corporate partners. You’ll often see her attending networking functions, conferences, dinners and at our events, supporting our fundraisers. If you’d like to learn more about how your business can help your local children’s hospital, get in touch with Katie for expert advice and direction.