A charity band night in Coventry more than doubled its all-time fundraising total in one evening after smashing its target and raising more than £37,500 for Acorns Children’s Hospice.
Deeley Group hosted the fourth edition of its charity band night, and this year supported the Midlands-based hospice which provides care for seriously ill babies, children and young people.
Organisers set an initial target of £10,000 for the event, however thanks to the generosity of guests on the evening it more than tripled their target.
The evening at Coventry Rugby Club saw 275 people come together to raise a total £37,616 bringing the overall amount raised since the event was first held to more than £71,600.
Eleanor Deeley, joint managing director at Deeley Group, started the evening with a speech to attendees before they had the opportunity to hear from Sian Timmins at Acorns about the work that the hospice does.
The night saw guests take part in an auction and raffles along with other games to boost fundraising, with a live performance by four-piece band Coco Magic to get everyone in the party mood.
The event also saw attendees take the opportunity to remember Nick Newbold, who passed away last month. He was Director of Coventry Rugby Club, chair of trustees for Coventry City FC and a member of Acorns Coventry Fundraising Group.
Nick introduced Deeley Group to Acorns and laid the foundations for the record-breaking fundraising event.
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for life limited and life threatened babies, children and young people and support for their families.
Sian Timmins, Partnership Fundraising Manager at Acorns, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Deeley Group for their fantastic fundraising efforts and generosity.
“Raising £37,616 through their annual charity band night is an amazing achievement, and it will make a real difference to the lives of children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions across Coventry and the wider West Midlands. Their support means the world to us – and to the families who will benefit from this kindness. Thank you so much to the trustees of the Deeley Group for such a wonderful opportunity.”
The Deeley Group Charity Band Night was organised by Trustees of the Deeley Group Charity, including Carol Maughan, Matt Lynch, Chris Newman, Vicky Hancocks and Joshua Hendy, with support from committee member Alain Kodjo.
Carol Maughan, Contract Administrator at Deeley Construction, said: “It was a truly fantastic evening and we are absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone on the evening.
“We host this event every 18 months or so and every year it surpasses our expectations. All the team worked really hard again this year, but I don’t think any of us expected to raise quite so much!
“We’re proud that the funds raised with go towards supporting the vitally important work that Acorns does, and we hope it can make a difference to the children and families that they support.”