Support continues for Rockinghorse during COVID-19 crisis

Over the last seven weeks the support for Rockinghorse Children’s Charity has been overwhelming, despite the challenging times facing everyone.

Back in March when the lock-down began, everyone in the charity sector could see the enormous impact that the virus would have on their ability to fundraise. Not only would the sector miss out on around £67m just from the postponement of the London Marathon, but all the other cancelled events and challenges could potentially have a devastating impact.

It was at this critical time that Rockinghorse made the decision to engage with their supporters and help them understand how important their continued support was to help sick children and young people across Sussex.

The week after the lock-down they launched their ‘Be a Rockinghorse Hero’ campaign with a range of ways to fundraise and since then the level of support has been overwhelming.

Inspirational ideas

You may think that trying to find ways to fundraise with limited time outside is difficult but there have been some amazing supporters who have found a way to help.

Lots of people have been using their daily exercise time to undertake ‘virtual’ sponsored runs in aid of Rockinghorse so their training doesn’t go to waste. And the recent 2.6 Challenge really caught the imagination with sponsored trampoline bounces, jumping jacks and basketball hoops.

Young people have also been more than keen to raise money for other children who are poorly. Two local netball clubs came up with the idea of scoring as many goals as possible within one hour and after managing over 26,000 goals they raised an amazing £3,500. And then there’s Bella, a twelve-year-old who ran 26km around her grandparent’s farm and raised just under £2,000!

Local business support

A group of local businesses in Sussex have also taken up the challenge to support Rockinghorse, bringing their expertise to the table to help.

Freedom Works, who provides flexible office space across the county, brought together a group of companies to design, create, market and distribute a beautiful t-shirt in support of the NHS. Customers can get their own rainbow drawing printed on the back and 100% of the profits are going to Rockinghorse.

Generous donations

Along with all these great activities, local organisations and businesses have also been donating to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital and other young people’s health services in Sussex.

Over Easter, nearly 1000 Easter Eggs were donated by groups including Sama Karate, Pure Gym, Poundland and the Stoneham Community Group, meaning even those stuck in hospital over the long weekend had a nice treat to enjoy!

The Body Shop also generously donated a large amount of toiletries for staff and families at the children’s hospital, helping staff during their long working hours or families while they are spending time with their children in hospital.

Ryan Heal, Rockinghore CEO, has been blown-away by the fundraising efforst; “The support shown for our much-loved local charity over the last six weeks has been truly wonderful. Both myself and the team started the lock-down feeling very apprehensive about the future, but we have all been amazed at how people have still chosen to support us, despite their own challenging situations.

It means that we are able to continue supporting those in the most need during this critical time and beyond. We all want to say thank you to everyone who has supported us so far and who will continue to support us in the future.”

Keep an eye out on the Rockinghorse website for event news and updates: rockinghorse.org.uk