Festive Quiz aims to raise funds for children with life-limiting or life -threatening conditions

Alan said, “this year, we chose to support the Sunflowers Children’s Action Group. The charity was formed in 2019 to create special, inclusive events for children in our region who suffer from life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. These children can often miss out on events such as school, school trips and parties as their illnesses often mean prolonged hospital stays and isolation at home. This has been exacerbated further throughout 2020 with many of these families forced into further isolation so we wanted to do everything we could to help to raise some much-needed funds”.

The Charity would normally be hosting an amazing Christmas party for these children. This year however, the party is having to go Virtual. This is a format that many of us have become accustomed to over the last 8 months so it is great to see that the charity will be able to bring the Christmas Experience to 100 local children.

The Sunflowers' website has been transformed in preparation for the virtual party. Volunteers will be donning their Elf outfits this weekend to deliver 'Christmas in a Box' to 100 local children who will be invited to the virtual party where they will have a 'Christmas Experience' like no other. Alison Mitchell, Marketing Manager at Forrester Boyd will be one of those elf volunteers helping to spread the joy of Christmas.

This sort of event does not happen without the fundraising, support of volunteers and donations from generous businesses, individuals and supporters of the charity along with the odd celebrity face who have been doing their bit to entertain the children over the past few months.

“We have worked very hard to compile ‘Christmas in a Box’ - it’s been such a challenge getting 100 of the things we needed in the current climate - but we are hand delivering (or elves are) “Christmas in a Box” which will include things such as a baking box, Christmas eve box, two Christmas book bundles, bauble making kits, card making kits and selection boxes and chocolate Santas to name just a few of the things contained. The idea is that we bring our community together on 6th December for a virtual party - and have given families the tools to do this. There’s plenty in the box for the whole family", said Joanne Wright, founder of the Sunflowers Children’s Charity.

The charity will also be supported on the day by 20, including Pixie Lott, Denise Welch, Mark Charnock and Nicola Wheeler (Emmerdale) and Lisa George (Coronation Street).

Finally, at 8pm mums and dads can pull up a chair, take a mug of hot chocolate or something stronger and see magician Tom Wright, who will be doing a live ‘Zoom’ show for the parents.

I am sure that everyone reading this will be amazed at what the charity is planning for these children but this does not come without the support and funding of people like yourselves. In these tough times, fundraising for charities is more challenging than ever.

Host your own festive quiz

We recorded our Festive Quiz which is hosted on You Tube so if you fancy a 'friends and family' festive challenge, please do feel free to watch and host your own quiz party. You can access the quiz here.

Please help to raise funds

While the quiz is totally free to view we would be grateful for any donations to help support the charity. If you can help, please do donate at www.justgiving.com/forrester-boyd5