Thursday, 27 March 2008

Mercedes-Benz of Teesside Sponsor Zöe’s Place Baby Hospice

Mercedes-Benz of Teesside has raised over £13,000 for Normanby baby hospice Zoë’s Place after adopting it as its charity of the year.

Mercedes-Benz of Teesside kicked off its fundraising effort with a fashion show and diamond raffle, with tickets at £20 each and a diamond pendant as fist prize. The event, which featured stalls run by local shops, took place at the company’s show room in Concorde Way, Stockton.

 “Obviously we are absolutely delighted to have such a high-profile company involved in Zoë’s Place,” said the charity’s spokes woman Rachel Bareham. “They have got lots of different ideas for the year. They already know a lot about the charity and they really want to fundraise for us. “We really do appreciate all the help and support from all the staff at Mercedes-Benz and everyone who has donated to the raffle prizes and donated on the evening as well. I was overwhelmed.”

Zöe’s Baby Hospice is the first in the country specifically for babies with multiple special needs. Zöe in Greek means Gift of Life, an appropriate name for the non-denominational and multi-cultural Hospice, as all the babies come to Zöe’s to live ´life´ to the full. The babies that come through Zöe’s doors have varying conditions and Multiple Special Needs. They are all very special, bringing with them joy, laughter and love. They are all individual’s, all little human beings. Each baby brings with them a new learning process for everyone and most importantly the gifts of humility, pride and admiration.
Zöe’s Place receive a very small amount of funding from local Primary Trusts, however, the majority of funds come from donations from local businesses and members of the public. Fund raising events and people leaving gifts in their wills to support their vital work is essential to the on going success of the hospice.