Alder Hey Children’s Charity are launching a new appeal with their first ever TV adverts from Monday to help make up a fundraising shortfall caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Appeal will ask for supporters to commit just £5 a month to help support the life-saving work which goes on at Alder Hey every day.
It comes as the Charity estimate that they have an income gap of £1.2m as a result of cancellations and postponements of scheduled fundraising events due to COVID-19 restrictions. They also state the restrictions have impacted on retail sales, individual giving and corporate donations.
Funds raised from the £5 a month appeal will make up for some of losses in income and enable the Charity to continue to provide vital support to Alder Hey over this difficult time. The Charity has already pledged £1.9 million to Alder Hey during the COVID-19 crisis to fund mobile equipment, innovative technology, urgent research projects and additional support for the wellbeing of frontline staff.
The 4 week TV campaign will run on ITV Granada from Monday 15th June, starting in the first break of Broadchurch which starts at 9pm. The campaign is asking viewers to call their Freephone number of 0800 473 0123 or go to www.alderheycharity.org to set up a direct debit.
The TV advert is voiced by long-time Alder Hey supporter, actress and Loose Women presenter Denise Welch who said of the Appeal:
“I’m very honoured to be voicing the Alder Hey TV Appeal asking viewers for a £5 monthly gift to help the hospital charity which has lost much needed funding due to COVID-19.
“My son Louis was born with a life threatening condition, Hirschsprung Disease and Alder Hey saved his life on two occasions. I will be forever grateful to Mr Graham Lamont and all of the amazing staff then and now for the selfless work they do for young children and their families.”
Fiona Ashcroft, CEO of Alder Hey Children’s Charity said:
“The recent COVID-19 outbreak has hit us hard and many of our fundraising activities, challenges, runs and events have been cancelled or postponed indefinitely, leaving us short of vital income so it is critical we find alternative ways to support the hospital now. A regular gift of £5 can help us do that and it allows us to plan ahead.
“The current crisis hasn’t altered our dedication to every single child treated at Alder Hey and we remain determined to fund new equipment and a variety of important projects this year, including our new Children’s Mental Health Appeal, as well as our ongoing requirements like
arts and crafts, physio activity packs and wellbeing services for frontline staff.”
You can set up a direct debit for the charity now by visiting www.alderheycharity.org today, and clicking DONATE.
The hospital treats over 330,000 children every year – that’s more than 900 children each and every day, more than any other children’s hospital in the UK.
