Holland & Barrett donates £100,000 to Rainbows children’s hospice

Holland & Barrett Chief Executive Peter Aldis paid an emotional visit to Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People in Leicestershire to donate £100,000 and meet with a family who receive vital support for their poorly baby.

It is the 10th year that the Nuneaton-based health and wellbeing retailer has donated to the hospice, contributing a grand total of £871,000 over the last decade. The money has helped to fund critical care for the children and families who use its facilities and the fresh donation will help this work continue.

To celebrate the occasion, Peter visited the children and young people using the facility, and spoke with the devoted staff members at the Loughborough-based charity, which supports families across the East Midlands.

Peter (pictured centre) met a family from Leicestershire – Ryan, 24, and Megan Clarke, 22, – who are parents to four-month old Isla-Grace and have been using the facility since October last year. 

When Isla-Grace was born she was found to have a damaged part of her brain and doctors feared that she would die the same day. However, Isla-Grace pulled through and her family were immediately referred to Rainbows children’s hospice where they have been receiving palliative care ever since. 

With the help of Rainbows the family are able to access top services and facilities, in addition to receiving full support from the staff with Isla-Grace’s care. 

Rainbows is the only centre of its kind in the East Midlands and is currently supporting 410 families. It receives less than 20 per cent of its funding from Government bodies, so donations are crucial to the operation of the facility.

Holland & Barrett and their suppliers raised the donation through their annual Charity Golf Day and Ball. Each year, half of the money raised is donated to Rainbows, while the remainder is donated to multiple charities across the UK through Holland & Barrett’s internal charity group Healthy Hope which sponsors staff fundraising efforts.

Holland & Barrett Chief Executive Peter Aldis said: “Rainbows children’s hospice is an incredibly worthy cause that brings so much happiness and light to families who are going through unimaginable sadness. 

“We at Holland & Barrett are delighted to support the hospice. Coming to visit the centre and speak to the staff has been a real inspiration, while meeting Ryan, Megan and gorgeous Isla-Grace has made my day extra special. We urge anyone out there who is planning on raising money for a local charity to look to Rainbows hospice.” 

Kate Golding, Head of Organisational Giving at Rainbows said: “We are overwhelmed by the generosity and ongoing support we receive from Holland & Barrett, which is always delivered with passion, enthusiasm and dedication. 

“Rainbows is the only hospice for youngsters in the East Midlands and this kind of financial support allows us to make a real difference to hundreds of families across the region.”

To donate to Rainbows hospice you can go online: rainbows.co.uk/donate or call: 01509 638049.