Crafter’s Companion has smashed its £3,000 fundraising target for Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity by raising more than £5,000 for the organisation.
Apart from regular long-distance runner, Sunny Pahal, none of the Crafter’s Companion team had run a half marathon before completing the Great North Run.
In addition to asking sponsors to support their attempts, the runners organised a ‘Great North Feast’ at Crafter’s Companion’s Headquarters in Newton Aycliffe, which raised £258. They also received a £832 donation from the craft company.
In total, the group’s fundraising efforts will enable three families to benefit from the bespoke care for an entire year.
Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity provides support for families who have a child aged 0-18 years with a life-threatening or terminal illness. The charity pairs each family with an expert Family Support Worker who helps them at home, in hospital and in the community, for as long as it is needed. On average, it costs the charity £1780 to support a family with a seriously ill child for one year.
Pictured above is Amy Gray, Paige Todd-Archbold, Sarah-Jane Grainger, Chantel Gray, Jade Craggs and Sunny Pahal.
Sunny, head of soft crafts at Crafter’s Companion and organiser of the company’s Great North Run challenge, said: “I’m so proud that we’ve managed to complete the Great North Run, even more so because we had unexpected heat on the day, which I know proved to be difficult for everyone participating.
“I want to say an extra big thank you to everyone at Crafter’s Companion. Everyone has been so supportive in helping us to meet and exceed our target.
“It is absolutely fantastic that we can say we were able to help such a worthwhile charity to support families in need.”
Oonagh Goodman, director of fundraising and marketing at Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, said: “We are extremely grateful to Sunny and her Crafter’s Companion colleagues and to everyone for taking part in the Great North Run for Rainbow Trust.
“Our family support workers support the whole family with whatever they need so that families don’t have to manage alone.
“It is wonderful that this money will help more families caring for a seriously ill child, so thank you again because without these fundraising efforts, we wouldn’t be able to offer this vital support.”