Colleagues at North East law firm Hay & Kilner have chosen one of the region's bestknown health charities as their fundraising cause for 2023.
After raising more than £6,300 for their dedicated charity last year, the Newcastle West End Foodbank, members of the Newcastle-headquartered practice have chosen to support Chuf (Children’s Heart Unit Fund), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
A range of regular fundraising activities are already underway, while several bigger individual and team challenges are also being planned for later in the year, including sponsored participation in the Great North Run. Members of the Hay & Kilner team will also be undertaking a number of volunteering days with the charity through the year.
Chuf cares for children and families who receive treatment at the Children’s Heart Unit at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, which is one of only two places in the UK equipped to deal with paediatric heart transplants, as well as providing support to congenital patients on the adult ward and at six other hospitals across the north of England.
Over 300 children are admitted to the Freeman’s Children’s Heart Unit for surgery every year, while over 3,000 children return each year for outpatient appointments.
The charity aims to support pioneering services that positively impact heart families, inspire hope and enable its Heart Heroes to reach their full potential, and raises money to fund equipment purchases, facilities, aftercare, salaries and research.
CHUF receives no statutory funding and needs to raise at least £500,000 every year to pay for its core services, with donations from individual and corporate supporters being its primary source of income.
Alicia Clovis-Mothalib corporate & trusts fundraising manager at CHUF, says: “Our aim is to support the provision of holistic care, services and facilities that the NHS is unable to provide or afford, to allow heart children to develop their skills and reach their fullest potential.
“The people and businesses that lend their time, skills and energy to our cause have a direct positive impact on the lives of Heart Heroes and their families right across the region.
“We’re delighted to have been chosen by Hay and Kilner as their charity of the year and can’t wait to support their fundraising events and volunteering days.
“We know the team have exciting plans and we’ll be cheering them on every step of the way!”
Hay & Kilner is one of North East England’s leading independent law firms and provides comprehensive legal advice across every aspect of the law to businesses and individuals from both within and outside the region.
A total of around £25,000 has been raised for the firm’s previous dedicated charities, which have included Tiny Lives, The People’s Kitchen and If U Care Share.
Bethany Herbertson, solicitor at Hay & Kilner and a member of the firm’s CSR committee, adds: “The fundraising we’ve undertaken in the last few years really brings every part of the Hay & Kilner team together, and we’ve been able to raise lots of money for some terrific North East causes in recent years.
“CHUF has an immense impact on the lives and well-being of families across our region and beyond, and we’re looking forward to finding out more about their work in the coming months.”