Community-minded staff at Hazlewoods have raised a total of £11,700 to help leukaemia sufferers.
Hazlewoods adopted LINC, (The Leukaemia & Intensive Chemotherapy Fund) as its charity of the year in 2014-15 and set about fundraising in a variety of ways, often supported by clients.
LINC was set up in 1998 to help patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy and stem cell transplant, which involves a long stay in hospital. Patients can often find themselves in difficulty as a result of their illness and LINC helps them in many different ways.
A cheque for the total amount raised was presented by Hazlewoods partner John Lucas to Karen Organ, LINC’s fundraising manager.
This year Hazlewoods staff will again be fundraising, this time for an organisation that supports victims of domestic abuse after adopting Stroud Beresford Group as its charity of the year.
It is a sad fact that on average two women a week are killed by a partner or ex-partner and at least 750,000 children a year witness domestic abuse.
Stroud Beresford Group has been offering accommodation, advice and support to families affected by domestic abuse for over 35 years.
A local, independent charity, it provides Gloucestershire’s only women’s refuge alongside a range of other services aimed at preventing domestic abuse or supporting those at risk.
Stroud Beresford Group also offers outreach services in the community for those affected by domestic abuse, including one to one support, group workshops for vulnerable people as well as professionals, together with a 12 week “Next Steps” programme.
The charity provides services to help children and their parents overcome their experiences, learn new skills and gain the confidence to build a happy life that is free from abuse.
Jill Cooper, manager of Stroud Beresford Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Hazlewoods have chosen to support Stroud Beresford Group. It will make a tremendous difference to the families that we help.
“Without such fundraising we just cannot function. It sends out a really strong message of community support for the people who stay in our refuge. There is no other women’s refuge in the county providing a safe place to stay.
“We work with each person’s individual needs. The majority have had their confidence and self-esteem damaged and we start to address that from day one, giving a range of support.”
John Lucas, partner of Hazlewoods Social Committee, said staff would be taking part in fundraising activities throughout the year for Stroud Beresford Group including sponsored runs, dress down days, a quiz and a swimming pool marathon, which would be the equivalent of crossing the English Channel.
“Our Social Committee voted unanimously to support Stroud Beresford Group because it is such a worthwhile cause,” said John. “And because it is quite a small charity we hope we can make a big difference with the money we raise. We also hope we can help raise the profile of the charity throughout the year.”
*For more details on Stroud Beresford Group visit www.stroudwomensrefuge.org