News: Rotherham Hospice chosen for Master Cutler's Challenge 2019

Rotherham Hospice has been chosen alongside St Luke’s in Sheffield, as one of the two chosen charities for the 12th annual Master Cutler's Challenge.

The Master Cutler's Challenge was launched in 2008, when the Master Cutler for that year, Gordon Bridge from AESSEAL in Rotherham, invited companies to transform a £50 investment into as much charity fundraising as possible.

Every year has seen the event grow – more than 500 companies have taken part to date, raising in excess of £1m for a range of charities.

And for 2019 Master Cutler Nick Cragg is aiming to see more businesses, groups and individuals than ever take up the challenge of raising money for his chosen organisations.

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Cragg, the 380th Master Cutler since the first in 1624, said: "We are really grateful to Outokumpu, Senior Architectural Systems, Nicholas Associates and Jenkinson Insurance who have generously sponsored the seed fund to allow this to happen.

"My wife Liz and I have visited both hospices and were immediately convinced that these were two organisations that we wanted to work with because they do such fantastic work.

"We were overwhelmed when we learnt the amount of money both hospices have to raise annually simply to keep functioning on a daily level and that is why we want our supporters to start their fundraising activities and make a difference to two charities that make such a great difference to the lives of so many people."

Liz Barran, Head of Fundraising at Rotherham Hospice, added: "We are delighted to be chosen as one of 2019's benefitting charities from the Master Cutler Challenge. It's not only an honour to be part of such a prestigious challenge it is also humbling to see so many local companies willing to get involved for the two charities involved.

"Here at Rotherham Hospice we need to raise over £2.5m per year to continue to provide the first class care that we do, both in the hospice its self and out in the community. Being chosen to be involved with the Master Cutler Challenge is such an exciting time for all involved and we can't wait to get started."

The Master Cutler Challenge kicks off on February 7 2019 at in the stunning surroundings of Cutler's Hall in Sheffield.

Master Cutler website

Images: Rotherham Hospice

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News: Region's businesses rise to charity challenges

The Mistress Cutler's Challenge came to an end earlier this month and with more still to come in, the total raised so far is over an outstanding £167,000.

The new twist on the annual Master Cutler's Challenge; one of the biggest, most well-known and exciting fundraising events in the Sheffield City Region saw more than 70 businesses and community groups from across the region accept the challenge. Using a £50 loan and their talents, skills and entrepreneurial flair to grow this amount they raised as much money as possible in just a few months.

This year, the challenge is supporting the Make it Better appeal that aims to raise £20m in the next three years to support the £40m transformation of The Children's Hospital, Sheffield.

The top fundraising team was from global law firm DLA Piper who raised £8739.64 through their Monopoly Challenge and cookbook. Former Master Cutler Gordon Bridge, a director of AESSEAL, and wife Janet were runners up to the challenge.

Julie MacDonald, the Mistress Cutler, said: "I am absolutely overwhelmed by the fantastic total we have managed to raise to support such a wonderful cause."

Also taking place recently, Junior Chamber International (JCI) members took part in a national campaign to collect sub-standard bras that can be recycled to raise cash for Flamingo Foundation projects. Members of Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber's Women in Business Group have handed over more than 80 bras to JCI Barnsley and a bra bank est up by Fiona Silvester, membership director at JCI and owner of Alexandra's Café in Rotherham, collected 1,050 bras in total.

Rotherham cycle importer and retailer, Planet X, sponsored the 65 Roses Holme Moss Classic last weekend that saw 300 cyclists embark on a sportive starting next to its premises at Magna (pictured, right). The 65 mile ride followed part of the route for the Tour de France's Grand Depart that takes place in Yorkshire next year to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Also getting on their bikes recently were 14 staff from JCT600 (pictured, below)who raised £2,342 for York & District Against Motor Neurone Disease (YAMND) in support of a colleague who was recently diagnosed with this debilitating condition.

The mammoth charity challenge entailed cycling past JCT600's 14 Volkswagen dealerships across Yorkshire, the Humber, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, covering 247 miles in just two days.

James Warne, head of business for JCT600 Volkswagen York, said: "It was a fantastic effort from the team which was made up of staff from our Volkswagen dealerships in York, Hull and Rotherham, as well as a director from our head office in Bradford.

"Our original aim was to raise £1,000 for the charity, but the generosity of our colleagues, customers and friends has meant that we've far exceeded this target."

Mistress Cutler's Challenge website
Planet X website
JCT600 website

Images: The Children’s Hospital Charity / Planet X / JCT600

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News: The Mistress Cutler's Challenge

Julie MacDonald, the Mistress Cutler is challenging businesses in the region to show their entrepreneurial skills and raise funds for charity.

The recently launched Mistress Cutler's Challenge is a new twist on the annual Master Cutler’s Challenge; one of the biggest, most well-known and exciting fundraising events in the Sheffield City Region.

Each organisation which accepts the challenge is loaned £50 and challenged to use their talents, skills and entrepreneurial flair to grow this amount, raising as much money as possible over the next few months. The Challenge culminates in a final celebration event at the Cutler's Hall in September, when the Mistress Cutler will present certificates and awards and those participating will be able to celebrate their successes.

This year, the challenge is supporting the Make it Better appeal that aims to raise £20m in the next three years to support the £40m transformation of The Children's Hospital, Sheffield.

Julie MacDonald, Mistress Cutler, said: "The Mistress Cutler's Challenge is my twist on the annual Master Cutler's Challenge. By taking part in my challenge, your company will be a part of something amazing - helping to make The Children's Hospital, Sheffield even better.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of the Challenge! I am looking forward to telling people about the hospital, its dedicated, hardworking staff and the brave children (and their families) who are treated there. I am looking forward to hearing about and, perhaps, participating in the new and exciting ways that people dream up to raise money. Most of all, I am looking forward to September when I will be able to announce how much the Challenge has raised for the Make it Better appeal!

"We are incredibly fortunate to have one of only four dedicated children's hospitals in the UK here in Sheffield. We've all been children, we all know children, and many of us are, or will be parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. We are so fortunate have this specialist hospital on our doorstep and we all need to do our bit to make it that little bit better!"

A team from award-winning Rotherham security specialists, Pyronix, has already signed up to raise money. A spokesperson for the Hellaby firm, said: "We took part last year and we know that the Challenge can make a real difference. We are delighted to support the Mistress Cutler."

Mistress Cutlers Challenge website

Images: tchc.org.uk

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