Local healthcare and bereavement charity Sue Ryder is celebrating the ‘treemendous’ support of Airedale, Wharfedale, the Dales communities who took part in this year’s Christmas Treecycling scheme.
The ecofriendly fundraising initiative saw Sue Ryder’s friendly and reliable volunteers - including teams from local businesses - collect hundreds of real Christmas trees straight from front doors, gardens and driveways, with thousands of pounds raised through optional donations.
Thanks to the generosity of residents, the funds will support Sue Ryder’s palliative and bereavement care.
3,020 trees were collected through the Sue Ryder Treecycling Airedale, Wharfedale, the Dales scheme raising £49,000, including £5,000 sponsorship from Beyondly.
The money raised helps Sue Ryder reach more people when they really need it, so no one is left to die or grieve alone.
[Treecycling Volunteer Andrew Thompson]
Real Christmas trees are 100% recyclable and those collected locally have been used in eco-plies to benefit wildlife and also in biofuel stations which power the national grid.
By taking part in the Christmas Treecycling scheme, Airedale, Wharfedale, the Dales residents who sign up to the scheme not only support the important work that Sue Ryder does but supports the environment as well.
Andrew Wood, Fundraising Manager at Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, shared his gratitude:
“We want to say an enormous thank you to everyone who signed up and helped our Christmas Treecycling scheme flourish.
“By choosing to recycle your real tree with an optional donation to Sue Ryder, your Christmas tree has become the gift of expert care, advice and compassion for those living with serious illness, death and grief. Your participation helps us be there for more people during the most challenging times of their lives.
"The success of the Sue Ryder Christmas Treecycling scheme relies entirely on the power of volunteers. Thank you to all the businesses and groups who helped with the collections: Skipton Self Drive, Keighley Tree Services, Virgin Media, JC Plastering, Settle District of Young Farmers, Upper Wharfedale Young Farmers Club, Green Lands Turf and Topsoil, Toby Heslop Garden Sevices and B Wood Construction.
“Around 40 volunteers, including Keighley's Mayor and Lady Mayor Chris and Linda Herd, offered their time to support the collections, making this incredible fundraising achievement possible.”
[Treecycling Volunteers Bea Hopwood and Karen Page]
Last year Sue Ryder provided palliative and bereavement care to thousands of families across the country, including those supported by our hospice and community teams at Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice. Sue Ryder's bereavement support includes an online community forum and new Grief Kind Spaces.
For more information on fundraising events, contact the fundraising team at Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice at 01535 640430 or email: manorlands.fundraising@sueryder.org
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