Bristol-based mutual insurer, National Friendly, has reached its target of raising £10,000 for children's charity The Lily Foundation after a year-long fundraising campaign.
Committed to supporting research into life threatening Mitochondrial Disease and other metabolic disorders, the charity’s work is close to the heart of National Friendly employees Neil and Debbie Thompson whose granddaughter, Freya, suffers from the disease. National Friendly employees voted to support the charity last year as they felt it stood out as a truly deserving cause.
The money raised will go towards The Lily Foundation’s research projects, the training of specialised doctors and nurses and will help cover housing costs for families with children in hospital.
National Friendly CEO, Richard Sear, comments: “We are committed to supporting worthy charities and thanks to the enthusiastic and imaginative fundraising efforts of the National Friendly team, I am thrilled to announce that we have reached our £10,000 target.
“I will take great pride in handing over the cheque, safe in the knowledge that the money we have raised will really make a difference to the fantastic work The Lily Foundation does on a daily basis.”
The Lily Foundation CEO, Liz Curtis, said: “It was a fantastic achievement to have been chosen by National Friendly as its charity of the year last year. The staff set themselves a challenging target to raise £10,000 and we are delighted that they have achieved this goal.
“I would like to both congratulate and thank all at National Friendly who have worked tirelessly to ensure this target was achieved, and consequently, ensuring our vital research and training programme can continue.”
Following the loss of their eight-month old baby, Lily, to Mitochondrial Disease, Liz Curtis and Dave Merritt set up The Lily Foundation after realising how little information was available for families with affected children. The Foundation is committed to finding a cure for Mitochondrial Disease and other metabolic disorders through funding research and providing support to those involved with and affected by metabolic disorders.
For more information about The Lily Foundation and Mitochondrial Disease please visit www.thelilyfoundation.org.uk or call 07864 922161.