Beechwood Fundraising for Keech Hospice Passes £250,000

Earlier this term, we were delighted to welcome Steve and Louise, from the Keech Hospice Care Community Fundraising Team, to our Middle and Senior Department Assembly. to mark the occasion of the School passing the £250,000 mark in its charity fundraising for this fabulous local charity.

Beechwood has a long association with Keech, having been fundraising for this exceptional local charity since 1998; in fact, Beechwood’s first charity fundraising effort actually occurred before the children’s hospice had even been built.

Keech Hospice Care provides free, specialist care for adults in Luton and south Bedfordshire, and children from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes living with a life-limiting illness.  Staff support adults and children to live pain and symptom free, to spend untroubled time with their family and friends, to understand what’s happening to them, to stay out of hospital and to make the most of the time they have. It takes around £6 million every year, that’s over £17, 000 every day, to provide their specialist care for adults, children, and their loved ones. As a charity, they rely on our supporters for around 70% of funding.

Steve and Louise explained where money raised for the charity goes, giving examples such as helping support families on holidays and days out, providing art and music therapy classes and other sensory activities and a hydrotherapy pool for children and young people and their families. 

Over the years, Beechwood has raised funds via a seemingly never ending variety of activities, with the BPSPA, the School’s Parents’ Association being integral to so many of them; the School and Keech are indebted to BPSPA members past and present for their energy and commitment to raising funds over the years.

Whilst, as Mr Balfour explained to pupils in Assembly, we do not undertake charity activities for praise and awards but instead because it is the right thing to do, we are nevertheless thrilled that Beechwood has been recognised by Keech as one of its top Community Fundraising Partners, having, over our 24 years of association, raised in excess of £250,000 for the charity.  Beechwood is also the only school to have raised this impressive amount, and, in recognition of this achievement, Steve and Louise presented Mr Balfour and the BPSPA, represented by current Chair Dan Crossley and Secretary Pippa Ridout, with a trophy and certificate.

Beechwood Head of Charities, Mr Wood, said “Listening to the assembly this morning reminded me of the challenge laid down by the Lorax, in Dr. Seuss’ book. I am so humbled that the Beechwood community, unlike the Once-lers, ‘cares a whole awful lot’, for such a long time and so generously. Your support has and will continue to help the children and parents in the amazing Keech Hospice“

Thank you once again to Steve and Louise for visiting Beechwood and for all the amazing care that Keech Hospice provides to local families, and to the entire Beechwood community, both now and in the past, for their unfailing support of this wonderful charity.

Find out more about Keech Hospice Care, and how you can support them, here