The FMB Birmingham Branch rounded off a magnificent three year fund raising drive with the presentation of a brand new minibus to a local charity.
In this short space of time the FMB Birmingham Branch raised £21,000 needed to buy a new vehicle for SPoCC, (the Society of Parents of Children with Cancer). This local charity was formed in 1985 by some of the medical staff at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and a small group of parents - some who had a child with cancer, others who had lost a child because of it. They joined forces to support each other and to help families of newly diagnosed children.
The necessary chemotherapy and radiotherapy often make these extremely brave children very sick and treatment sessions mean frequent stays in hospital. During this time families find themselves under enormous strain. SPoCC tries to help them in a variety of ways through what is probably the most traumatic time of their lives.
This is where the bus comes in!
President of SPoCC, Pauline Cowley, said: “SPoCC organises trips out for the children and their families, taking them to Legoland, Drayton Manor etc, as well as trips to sporting venues and even pop concerts. We also use the minibus to pick up children and their families from home to take them to hospital for their routine appointments, very often, parents of children with cancer will have to give up their jobs in order to look after the children, money obviously gets tight so the SPoCC minibus is hugely appreciated.”
The current SPoCC bus was on its last legs so the FMB Birmingham Branch Committee made it their goal to raise this massive amount in as short a time as possible. The presentation of the new vehicle took place on Saturday 25th April at the magnificent Burlington Hotel in Birmingham City Centre. Central TV cameras were there to film the event when the keys were presented to SPoCC Vice- President, and chief minibus driver Max Cowley, by ex Aston Villa player, Charlie Aitken and FMB Birmingham Branch Chairman, Peter McHugh. Peter, who is also a partner and specialist construction lawyer with Midlands law firm Challinors said: “The branch was re-formed in 2006 and all members expressed a keen desire to raise funds for a local charity as a focus for event and fundraising activities.
“We chose SPoCC as it desperately needed a new minibus which would become a lifeline for the children, and be used to take them both to and from appointments at the hospital, and also on much-needed daytrips.”
The driving force behind the campaign has been the Birmingham Branch President Ann Grainger who has worked tirelessly to Organize fund raising events. Just before Christmas last year (as the credit crunch started to bite hard!) the branch raised £6421 at one event alone. Ann said: “Considering we’re in the middle of a recession, I think that’s pretty amazing. As interest rates dwindled on funds we banked, from a pretty healthy £50 or £60 in the early days of the campaign, to £2.75 per month towards the end, I’m glad that our last push in December took us to our target.”
More money
Even more funds were raised at the Birmingham Branch Spring Ball also held at the Burlington Hotel on the same day as the keys were handed over – this money is sufficient to send two families who belong to SPoCC to Disneyland, Paris for a break.
This SPoCC minibus will be out and about in the Birmingham area for years to come. Not only is it a fantastic resource for the charity – it doesn’t do badly as a mobile advertising hoarding for the FMB either!
Has your branch done something exceptional? If so, contact the editor, Nicky Rogers at nickyr@warnersgroup.co.uk
Tel: 01778 391128
