FOUR Northamptonshire-based charities are set to benefit from an Apprentice-style fundraising challenge.
Cynthia Spencer Hospice and the Hope Centre in Northampton have again been selected to benefit from the Franklins £50 Challenge, run by law firm Franklins Solicitors. And this year they are joined by two other Northampton-based charities: The Lewis Foundation and Northamptonshire Community Foundation.
The challenge to teams from participating businesses sees each receive an initial £50 seed funding which they are tasked with using to generate valuable extra funds for their chosen charity.
She completed the 26-mile course around ‘the Big Apple’ in just over five hours and five minutes. Andrea, equity partner and head of Franklins Solicitors’ business services department in Northampton and Milton Keynes, ran to raise money for the firm’s Pallets of Hope campaign, which aims to raise enough funds for 11 pallets of Christmas essentials – food, warm clothes and gifts – for the food larders organised in Northampton by the Hope Centre charity.
Each pallet’s retail value is £2,500 but Franklins is paying just a £500 admin fee to food redistribution charity HIS Church.
To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/page/pallets-of-hope
The challenge takes place over three months from February next year. In previous years teams have organised auctions, cake sales, barbecues and car washes among a myriad of fundraising ideas to help their chosen cause.
Four charities based in Milton Keynes will also benefit from the efforts of participating teams challenged by Franklins’ office in the city.
“We are excited to be working with eight local charities who do amazing work in our communities and rely on public support to help make this happen,” said Franklins partner Andrea Smith. “We hope to see as many local businesses as possible signing up to take part for 2024.”
The Franklins £50 Challenge began in 2018 and has raised more than £100,000 for local charities, The aim of the 2024 challenge is to fight hunger, fuel wellness and change lives locally.
Northamptonshire Community Foundation will use funds raised on its behalf towards its Rural Community Needs initiative, launched in June with a target of £200,000.
“We know from our research that there are people within Northamptonshire’s rural communities who are experiencing rising levels of homelessness, social isolation, the burden of meeting the rising costs of everyday costs fuel or food and the choice at times of whether to heat their homes or feed their families,” said the foundation’s head of giving and development Dean Jones. “We are delighted to have been selected as one of the designated charities for 2024.”
Lorraine Lewis, chief executive of The Lewis Foundation, added: “More than ever, due to the cost of living crisis, the people who are diagnosed with cancer who we support in hospital are struggling to afford the basic essentials they need, in addition to home comforts. This challenge will be a fantastic opportunity for businesses to work together and think outside the box to raise awareness and funds to support those within our community who need help.”
Franklins is encouraging companies and organisations to sign up to take part in the 2024 £50 Challenge. To register as a team visit www.franklins-sols.co.uk/50-challenge
