EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE Big thanks to loyal corporate supporter
ONE of the hospice’s most important corporate supporters has been awarded a trophy thanking them for their ongoing fundraising work.
The Macclesfield pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca, has been a hospice supporter since the Millbank Drive facility first opened in 1988 and were one of the original founding businesses who contributed to the building costs. Employees at the AstraZeneca sites have helped to raise funds over the last 30 years and collected £26,000 last year alone.
To mark its ongoing support, hospice director Karyn Johnston presented AstraZeneca with a trophy designed in the shape of the hospice logo – the sunflower.
Karyn said: “Over the years, AstraZeneca employees have been superb friends to us and we wanted to thank them in a special way.
“It was an honour to host their visit and to personally acknowledge all their support over the last three decades.
“We need to raise over 80 per cent of our running costs each day and we can’t do this without the fantastic support of our corporate supporters.”
Juliette White, vice president global external sourcing, AstraZeneca, said: “I am very proud that AstraZeneca is part of supporting the important work done by East Cheshire Hospice.
“Many of us are touched personally by the outstanding work the hospice does everyday.”
Colin Bath, community involvement champion at AstraZeneca, said: “The range of fundraising events has been truly phenomenal, from cake sales to sponsored haircuts.
“We are very proud to have supported the hospice in 2018 and we will once again make it our Charity of Choice in 2019.”
AstraZeneca employees have undertaken their own fundraising and there are regular events to raise funds such as the Alderley Park Farm Weekend.
At a special event at the hospice, Karyn welcomed staff from the company to talk about the work of the hospice and future plans.
Karyn was joined by clinical director Sarah Dale and Sandra Jones, who has a connection with the company having previously worked as a research nurse at AstraZeneca, working on clinical trials with oncology drugs.