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Grow Your Dough proves roaring success for My WiSH Charity
An awards evening marked the end of a successful three month fundraising initiative for My WiSH Charity. Teams were invited from across the county to celebrate the end of ‘Grow Your Dough’, a campaign started by the charity to fund an activity assistant role to support patients on ward G4 at the West Suffolk Hospital.
Earlier this year, My WiSH called on their community to rise to a new challenge. Teams of any size received a £50 donation and were encouraged to get creative to make their ‘dough’ grow between the months of April and June. This starter donation was made possible by the chartered accountants and business advisors Knights Lowe, who sponsored the event.
More than 30 teams took part in the challenge, including bakeries, shops, schools, pubs, and care homes. In total, Grow Your Dough raised more than £31,300, which will be used to provide an activity assistant based on the elderly care medicine ward at West Suffolk Hospital, where many patients experience dementia or delirium.
My WiSH Charity handed out four trophies during the awards evening to reward the teams’ hard work.
Catering business Elite Cakes & Buffets were awarded ‘Most Dedicated Team’ for their efforts and building materials supplier Clarkes of Walsham took home the trophy for ‘Best Fundraising Idea’, with their take on classic British TV programmes for their fundraising events.
The ‘Best Community Fundraiser’ award was given to the teams that helped to spread awareness of the charity; Moreton Hall bakery and café Quality Eats and the Brandon-based school Glade Academy.
Danie Curd, founder of Quality Eats, had a personal connection to this initiative. She said: “When My WiSH approached us to take part in Grow Your Dough, of course we said yes! Dementia affects so many people, including my Grandma. We are honoured to have won the ‘Best Community Fundraiser’ award and we would love to do this again.”
Arguably the most anticipated award of the evening, ‘Most Dough Raised’ was presented to the Bury Town Football Club bar staff, who raised £3,232.95 through a race night, raffle and sponsored 14-mile walk.
Each team also received a certificate to congratulate them on their total amounts raised for My WiSH Charity.
Rosie Cawston, ward G4 manager at the West Suffolk Hospital, thanked the teams: “Thank you from ward G4 for your support. To have a specific role dedicated to engaging with patients with dementia and delirium is hugely valuable to us on the ward. We know this kind of interaction is vital to our older patients to help maintain their cognitive skills while they are in hospital.
“We are so pleased that we have successfully recruited our activity assistant, and they will be starting this exciting new role soon.”
Tanya Fifield, fundraising officer and event organiser, thanked those who took part and said: “The charity have been blown away by our teams’ commitment to supporting ward G4 and dementia care.
“We have attended some wonderful events over the last three months, all of which have kindly helped to spread awareness of what we do and how we can help. I want to say a huge thank you to everybody who has supported Grow Your Dough, it has been a pleasure working alongside you all.”
Jeremy Over, executive director of workforce and communications, attended the celebration evening and added: “Once again, our fundraisers have stepped-up to make this campaign an absolute success and on behalf of our Trust I would like to thank them most sincerely.
“Their commitment and dedication represent the very best of our community across the west of Suffolk, and the experience of our patients will be enhanced as a direct result.”
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