Business Awards to boost £2m Acorns appeal

ACORNS Children’s Hospice has been named the official charity partner of the Birmingham Post Business Awards 2019.

The Wythall-based charity operates hospices in Selly Oak, Worcester and Walsall where it cares for children and young people with life-limiting conditions and provides support services for their families.

The annual celebration of business excellence takes place this Thursday (September 12) at the ICC and will recognise achievement among individuals and companies across 12 categories.

Acorns Children’s Hospice will receive proceeds generated in a charity raffle to be held during the awards ceremony which will go towards its Save Acorns Black Country Hospice Appeal.

The initiative was launched in July to raise £2 million to secure the future of its Walsall hospice and the more than 230 children and their families who receive care there.

It costs £27,000 every day to run Acorns’ services and it relies heavily on donations to fund the majority of its activities.

Chief executive Toby Porter said: “We are deeply grateful to be chosen as the official charity for this year’s Birmingham Post Business Awards.

“Every hour of every day, Acorns staff and volunteers work tirelessly to provide the vital care hundreds of children and their families across the region need. This highly skilled and specialist care would simply not be possible without the ongoing and valued support of the local business community.

“We are also thankful to be given the opportunity to share our Black Country Appeal with such a highprofile audience as we look to raise the funds to keep our Walsall hospice open for the children and families that need our support.”

The appeal was launched by Acorns on the back of new funding locally and nationally from the NHS.

It is aiming to raise capital to go towards the running of the Walsall hospice until the full amount of new Government funding is reached.

Mr Porter added: “On behalf of everyone at Acorns, my sincere thank you to the Birmingham Post and to everyone at the event whose generosity will help us continue to provide our children’s hospice care to any family that needs our support.”

For more information about Acorns and the fundraising appeal, please visit the charity’s website at www.acorns.org.uk