The UK’s largest theatre – the Edinburgh Playhouse – and its generous audiences have together raised a total of £82,485.83 for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).
In a run of support that’s lasted for almost 20-years, the iconic live entertainment venue has co-ordinated bucket collections, held fundraising events and donated gifts in aid of supporting and raising awareness of the work, care and services provided by CHAS.
CHAS is the only charity in Scotland that provides hospice services for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions. The national charity offers palliative care and respite for the whole family via its two hospices, Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch, and its CHAS at Home service, which supports families in their own homes across the whole of Scotland.
Commenting on the total raised after almost 20 years of fundraising for CHAS, Edinburgh Playhouse Customer Experience Manager, Leane McColgan, said: “We’ve been working to help highlight the valuable work of CHAS for almost two decades and it’s fantastic that during this period we’ve been able to raise more than £82,000.
“Upon Visiting Rachel House we had the opportunity to see first-hand how our support contributes directly towards sustaining the home from home environment that CHAS and its staff create, along with the care, services and support they provide to children and families throughout Scotland. These funds help ensure this important work is able to continue.
“This great achievement is made possible through the support and contributions of all of our audience members over the last twenty years.”
The children’s charity recently launched its Keep The Joy Alive campaign – aiming to grow its fundraising income over the next five years and realise its ambitions to support every child in Scotland with a life-shortening condition, and their family.
Sarah Dannfald, Community Fundraiser at CHAS, said: “We want to thank the Edinburgh Playhouse and its audiences for their amazing commitment and generosity. At CHAS, we want to make sure that wherever there’s a child in Scotland with a life-shortening condition, we’re on hand to support their entire family. The vital funds raised by our supporters helps us to keep the joy alive for families facing the most difficult time imaginable by ensuring that no matter how short their time together may be, it is filled with happiness.”
The Edinburgh Playhouse, which is owned and operated by the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), supports a number of charitable causes across the country. Through the support of audience members funds have also been raised for Artlink, Waverley Care and SAMH, amongst others.