THE “incredible” fundraising efforts of Scottish hotels group Manorview have been praised by the company’s charity partner as the business continues to raise money for sick children around Scotland.
Manorview’s Busby Hotel first started working with children’s charity When You Wish Upon A Star in 2017, raising more than £30,000 for the organisation by early 2020. In addition to raising funds, the hotel hosted events for the charity, including an annual Disney-themed afternoon tea.
When You Wish Upon A Star grants ‘wishes’ to children with terminal illnesses, providing them with experiences as diverse as swimming with dolphins in Florida or sharing hot chocolate with Santa. Due to the pandemic, the charity has been forced to put a number of these wishes on hold.
Last year When You Wish Upon A Star was chosen as the charity partner for the Manorview group as a whole. However, fundraising was immediately impacted by the pandemic.
Undeterred, the team busied themselves with virtual fundraising activities, raising over £27,000 from an initial target of £2500.
As of June 2021, the company had raised £68,000 and is aiming for £90,000, which will
allow the charity to charter a plane to Lapland, taking a group of children and their families to the area for a Christmas adventure.
Judith King, Scotland regional fundraiser at When You Wish Upon A Star, said: “The Manorview team are an incredible group of people, and very dear friends to our charity. “From meeting the team in 2017 it is quite simply an amazing story and journey of fundraising, memory making, laughs, tears and friendship with everyone.
“We step in when our families need it most and when they are facing the toughest of times, never knowing what the future may bring and sadly for some where time is very much against them.
“The power of Lapland allows our families to look forward to something magical and gives them the chance to simply be a child and do what families do together, whilst creating precious and important memories with loved ones.
“This is the gift that Manorview continue to give our families and we are so proud of them all.
“The team have raised an incredible amount of funds over the last 14 months where all sectors and especially the hospitality industry are facing the toughest of times.
“We are so proud to have Manorview at the heart of our Wish granting work in Scotland.”
Manorview chairman, Steve Graham, said the charity is “very close to our hearts and our entire team is dedicated to raising money to help support the amazing work they do”.
“We really wanted to set ourselves a big goal and choose a meaningful fundraising target,” said Graham.
“The idea that the £90k we’re aiming to raise could send an entire plane of families to Lapland certainly spurs us on when we’re facing a hike or about to do a sky dive!
“We are already sitting at £68k. We’ve still got some work to do but we’re hopeful our charity cocktail, upcoming 15km team trek and other activities we have planned will get us there – especially with the help of the families, friends, partners and suppliers who are being generous with their sponsorship!”
