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'Grow Your Dough' initiative raises staggering £27,000
School children, businesses, families, and individuals have helped to raise nearly £27,000 for charity by turning a starter donation of £50 into a series of innovative fundraising initiatives.
My WiSH, which raises money to enhance care provided by West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, held an event on Tuesday, 15th July, to recognise the efforts of teams taking part in the charity’s annual “Grow Your Dough” campaign.
A series of awards were handed out to some of the 22 teams who took part to help the campaign raise an incredible final figure of £26,927.
Each team received a £50 starter donation, courtesy of sponsors, chartered accountants and business advisors Knights Lowe. The teams then had three months – from 1 April to 30 June – to grow their funds in the most innovative ways possible.
Five trophies were handed out at the special awards evening held at The Guildhall, in Bury St Edmunds, with the Most Dough Raised Award going to catering business Elite Cakes and Buffets, based in Pakenham, after contributing £6,345.43 to the total.
The team held a raft of events including a soup and sweet lunch, coffee mornings, bingo nights, afternoon teas, cake bakes and four raffles.
Andrea Davey, who owns the business, said she was supported by a host of businesses with British Sugar donating 48kgs of sugar for her sweet treats.
With her team of 10 they managed to get a range of prizes for the raffles, and she said: “It’s been really good and really a lot of fun and everybody has worked so hard.
“We were very lucky, and we got donations from as many people as possible and we had been round getting all the raffle prizes and I am so pleased with the amount that we raised.”
Pupils from the Glade Academy, in Brandon, won the special “Grow Your Dough” Award, a new category specially created for previous fundraisers of the campaign who increased the amount they raised from 12 months ago.
The youngsters, aged 8-10 from Years 4 and 5, held a series of fundraising events including bingo, a mini fair, raffles, cakes sales and a wacky “throw a sponge at the teacher”.
Bryony Hodges, the Year 4 teacher and the recipient of the wet sponge, said the spirited youngsters organised the various events they held and were thrilled with winning the award with a lot of fun created during their fundraising.
The Most Dedicated Team Award went to FWD Accounts, in Bury St Edmunds; Bury Town Football Club and the Dun Cow pub in Bardwell were the joint winners of the Community Engagement Award; and the Most Creative Fundraising Award was won by Quality Eats, on the Moreton Hall Estate.
The money raised will be used by My WiSH to fund services, departments and appeals at the hospital. This includes the WiSH Upon A Star Children’s Appeal, the WiSHing Well Appeal enhancing adult care, a specific ward, such as the stroke unit or the Macmillan cancer unit, or the area closest to their hearts.
Tanya Fifield, My WiSH Charity’s fundraising officer and event organiser, thanked the fundraisers and said: “It’s been amazing, you guys make me really happy.
“You have given so much heart, soul, and passion into the event. It’s been incredible to watch, and it’s been my absolute pleasure to work with you all.”
Paul Knights, from Knights Lowe, said he was “very pleased” to have sponsored the event and “very proud” of what all the fundraisers achieved.
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