Big boost for Gold Dust appeal

A Trust Celebration Awards 2015 raffle combined with match funding from Santander Foundation has meant a boost of more than £1400 for the Gold Dust Appeal.

The Gold Dust Appeal is aimed at raising £100,000 to transform the children’s wards, creating a bright, welcoming environment on level 12 at Derriford Hospital. This will include tactile, colourful and interactive displays for patients and their families.

The raffle was organised by Paul Snell, Lead Chaplain at Derriford, and former Trust Fundraising Manager Jenny Aspland. The pair helped to organise donations and Santander staff offered to sell the raffle tickets and match the sales from their own charity fund.

Santander employees, led by Jordan Harrington, volunteered to sell the raffle tickets on the night of the awards. Those ticket sales plus Santander Foundation match funding led to a grand total of £1413.69.

Jordan Harrington Personal Banker at Santander’s Plymouth Branch said: “Santander is heavily involved in supporting its local community, what better cause to help than improving the children’s ward at Derriford hospital. The Gold Dust appeal is an amazing charity for an important cause and we are glad we could help in fundraising to get the appeal that much closer to their goal’’

Anita Dykes, Matron for Paediatrics at Derriford, said: “We are really grateful for this significant donation so big thanks to Jordan and everyone who helped him as well as to Santander. We have ambitious plans to improve and transform our children and young people’s wards and I would encourage everyone to help us realise our dreams and get involved with Gold Dust.”

If you would like to get involved and help to fundraise for Gold Dust, please visit our Gold Dust page http://bit.ly/OurGoldDustAppeal and like us on Facebook.