Francis House Children’s Hospice Receives Overwhelming Response to Easter Chick Appeal, Raising Over £55,000
On Tuesday 26 March, 2024, Francis House Children’s Hospice in Manchester announced the success of their Easter Chick Appeal, which saw a staggering 35,000 knitted chicks donated from all around the world. The hospice staff were overjoyed by the outpouring of support from the global knitting community.
These adorable knitted chicks, each filled with a donated chocolate egg, were sold for £2 each across the region. The donations of chocolate eggs came from schools, supermarkets, and local businesses, with this year’s appeal expected to raise over £55,000.
The Easter Chick Appeal is a vital fundraising event for Francis House, as it supports the hospice’s work in providing care for children and young adults with life-limiting conditions. The hospice also offers support and respite for the entire family. Rachel Nasiri, fundraising officer at Francis House, expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming support from the community, stating, “Our Easter Chick Appeal is unique in that it involves not just our wonderful knitters but the whole community going all out in their support.”
The generosity of the community was evident not just in the donations of knitted chicks and chocolate eggs, but also in the efforts of volunteers who helped pack and distribute the orders. Knitter Maria Dunbobbin from Cheadle made over 1,400 chicks, some of which were sold with cute bows and googly eyes. Even those that arrived in need of repair were taken care of by volunteers like great-grandmother Beryl Wood, who single-handedly mended over 1,000 chicks.
The delivery of 35,000 chicks to participating schools and shops required a team of volunteer drivers, including staff from Taylor Wimpey Manchester, CHEP UKI, and Equilibrium Financial Planning. More than 60 schools participated in selling chicks, with St Vincent’s RC Primary School in Altrincham selling an impressive 800 chicks.
Rachel Nasiri expressed her appreciation for the support of the community, stating, “The funds raised through this year’s Easter Chick Appeal will go a long way in supporting the work of Francis House.” The hospice relies on the community’s generosity to continue providing their essential services, and the success of this year’s Easter Chick Appeal is a testament to the kindness and generosity of the people involved.
For those still looking to purchase a chick, a Google map has been created with over 70 locations where they can be found. Francis House Children’s Hospice provides care for families of children and young adults with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, including respite care, homecare, sibling support, end of life care, and bereavement support.
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