ellenor launches Accumulator Challenge: How will you grow yours?

ellenor has launched an exciting challenge to local businesses - the Accumulator Challenge – a competition to see which companies can grow £50 into the largest amount to provide much needed funds for families facing terminal illness.

The initial investment of £50 notes is using some funds generously donated by Councillor David Elliott, The Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, who chose ellenor as his Charity of the Year 2015/16.

“We are so thankful to Councillor Elliott for supporting this initiative and investing a little of the amazing £25,000 he raised for us over the year to make even more funds to support families facing illness,” says Rachel Holweger, Director of Fundraising at ellenor. “He is creating a lasting legacy for ellenor from his year in office – which is an amazing thing to do.”

The initiative was unveiled at a recent gathering of ellenor Business Club – which saw a number of businesses sign up on the spot, including Matthew Sankey, owner of Sankey’s in Tunbridge Wells, where the meeting took place, Handelsbanken, Berwick Devoil Healthcare Limited (BDHL), Climbing Goats, CooperBurnett and Baxall Construction.

“Like many businesses, we are often asked to help charities raise much needed funds,” says Matthew Sankey. “These normally find their way into my inbox in the form of a cut and paste email requesting a raffle prize. It’s so refreshing to be introduced to a method of fundraising that not only appeals to my entrepreneurial nature but is also going to fuel that bit inside that doesn’t like to be beaten.”

Even if these initial six companies raise another £50 each through the scheme, then the resulting £300 could pay for ten sessions of play therapy for one of the charity’s young patients or their siblings.

Sarah Burton, mother of two-year-old Finley, one of ellenor’s patients, explains how play therapy has benefitted his brother Alfie: “Throughout this Alfie has been fantastic, but he’s only six now and he needs his Mum and Dad too. It’s been a lot for him to deal with. Play therapy has really helped him and we’ve both had counselling. The first year was awful – neither of us slept – so that extra support was just what we needed. Without ellenor our lives would be lonely and a lot more stressful.”

The ellenor Accumulator Challenge begins on 11 July and will run for three months.

“Getting your company involved with the Accumulator Challenge is a fantastic way to engage staff and inject a little fun into the workplace,” says Kate Barnes, Area Fundraiser at ellenor. “We will be there to support businesses along the way. However you decide to complete the challenge, this is an ideal opportunity to encourage teamwork, develop creativity, boost morale among staff and engage with your local community.”

An awards ceremony will be held at the end of the challenge – where the companies which have raised the most money and those which have been particularly creative with their fundraising ideas will be recognised.

“We are delighted with the response to this distinctive new fundraising challenge and want to thank all the companies which have signed up so far,” says Rachel Holweger. “We are excited to see how they grow the initial investment and what innovative ways they come up with for their fundraising.”

If you're interested in participating in the ellenor Accumulator Challenge, please call Kate Barnes on 01474 320007  or email kate.barnes@ellenor.org