A team of cyclists from Rockliffe Hall in Hurworth, County Durham, has raised over £5,000 for The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund at Leeds Congenital Heart Unit.
Twelve members of staff from the resort took part in a gruelling bike ride challenge in July, taking on some of the toughest terrains in Yorkshire, including Grinton Moor and parts of the Tour de Yorkshire route.
They were riding in memory of a team member’s nephew who tragically passed away just 5 weeks after being born with a heart condition. The cyclists presented a cheque to Donna Webb, a Senior Sister at the Paediatric Cardiology Unit at Leeds General Infirmary and Alex Green, a Community Fundraiser for the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, before kick-off at Middlesbrough’s home win against Queens Park Rangers on Friday night (20th November). In total they raised £5,478.
Eamonn Elliott, Chief Executive at Rockliffe Hall, who took part in the challenge, said: “The charity bike ride was a real test of everybody’s physical and mental strength but we all did it, enjoyed it and are thrilled to have raised so much money for a cause that’s so important to many members of the Rockliffe team.”
Alex Green, Community Fundraiser for the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, said: “We are delighted to receive this cheque from Rockliffe Hall for such a fantastic amount and would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part or donated. The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund provides vital equipment, resources, research and training for the treatment of children and adults suffering from congenital heart disease and the money raised will go a long way to supporting patients and their families.”
The cheque presentation came in the same week that Rockliffe Hall announced its charity partnership with the Butterwick Hospice, for which the resort aims to raise £15,000 over the next 12 months through a variety of events.
Each year it costs more than £4 million to fund Butterwick’s current services but it receives less than 25% of this from statutory funds meaning it relies on the rest from donations. The charity has three hospices in the North East, which offer a better quality of life through pain and symptom control, soothing and beneficial therapies, helpful family support and ongoing bereavement counselling.
Contact Rockliffe Hall on 01325 729999 or visit www.rockliffehall.com
