This year’s St Mary’s Hospice’s Battle to Succeed has been a fantastic success and raised vital funds thanks to schools and businesses taking part in an “Apprentice” style challenge.
Schools taking part in 2022 are Furness Academy, George Hastwell, Newbridge House School and Ulverston Victoria High School. With each of the schools being paired with a local business – Bender, Capgemini, The Cumberland Building Society and Stollers. Each company acting as their mentor and guide, and providing £30 seed fund for each team, to help them create and deliver an innovative business plan over a number of weeks.
Event sponsors Ørsted funded the awards presentation evening held at Furness Academy on 25th May, celebrating local talent.
St Mary’s Hospice’s Ali Alger compered the awards evening with selected teams from each school presenting their projects: “This evening is a celebration of skills, talents and kind heartedness of students from across Furness and South Lakes who have embraced St Mary‘s Hospice and the challenges set through the Battle to Succeed programme. In doing so I know they have worked incredibly hard, have learnt much and will make a huge difference to local patients living with advancing illness their carers and families.”
Helen Carlson, St Mary’s Hospice Head of Fundraising: “We are so grateful to the schools who have taken part and are excited to see the range of fundraising activities that have been put into action. We are delighted at the participation and support from Bender, Capgemini, The Cumberland Building Society and Stollers providing invaluable business expertise to develop real experience and skills for the participants. Thank you to Ørsted, Napthens and Winders for providing judges. Everyone has worked so hard to make it a really worthwhile project in so many ways. With special thanks to sponsors Ørsted for making the event possible and Furness Academy for hosting the event so brilliantly.”
Each Battle to Succeed participant will receive a certificate and special awards were presented: Challenges Overcome – Academy Crafts, Furnesss Academy, Presentation Skills – Newbridge House School, Originality – Garden Observation, Ulverston Victoria High School, Money Raised – George Hastwell School, and Overall Winners – Garden Observation, Ulverston Victoria High School.
Mr Hall, Ulverston Victoria High School: “I just wanted to say how much I, and the children (and their families) enjoyed the presentation evening. It was incredibly heart-warming and inspiring to see the work of all the students and schools, and the judges certainly had a difficult decision to make. The UVHS students have been praised immensely in school for all their hard work and efforts, and Theo and Zack in particular came in this morning absolutely bouncing – a combination of pride, and a sugar rush from the box of sweets!”
Zack, pupil at UVHS: ” I enjoyed the project because it feels good knowing I am helping people. I found getting started was the most difficult part, it is important to plan and prepare. I have learnt a lot and my confidence, IT, and communication skills have improved. The best bit was I raised more money than I expected.”
Janet Gilmour, spokesperson for Ørsted: “Ørsted is delighted to be in partnership with St Mary’s Hospice and support Battle to Succeed for as many years it’s been going. And how proud we are of schools and businesses taking part in Battle to Succeed.”
Helen Carlson added: “It’s such an honour to have been a part of tonight. A huge well done to ALL the children who took part, you should all be very proud as you blew us all away with your resilience, commitment and ideas. Thank you to everyone who made this happen.”
“We are also inviting schools and local businesses, to join next year’s Battle to Succeed, which is back for 2023. No matter how an organisation chooses to support the hospice, the biggest benefit of being a corporate supporter – and what makes this so rewarding – is that not only are they inspiring a future work force but they are helping to fund care for local patients and their loved ones when they need it most.”
The grand total raised through Battle to Succeed will be announced soon.
For information on any of the events or to find out more on how you can support the hospice call the fundraising team on 01229 580 305 or by emailing fundraising@stmaryshospice.org.uk.