Chestnut Tree House thrilled by £73k donation

GOODWOOD’S four-day festival of speed has helped to raise an incredible £73,399.63 for one Poling-based children’s hospice.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Dec 2014, 11:00 BST
Hugh Lowson, Chestnut Tree chief executive, with Duchess of Richmond and Gordon and Kate Higton, left SUS-141127-100403001Hugh Lowson, Chestnut Tree chief executive, with Duchess of Richmond and Gordon and Kate Higton, left SUS-141127-100403001
Hugh Lowson, Chestnut Tree chief executive, with Duchess of Richmond and Gordon and Kate Higton, left SUS-141127-100403001

Staff and carers at Chestnut Tree House, in Dover Lane, near Arundel, have been left overwhelmed by the donation.

The charity, which is Sussex’s only children’s hospice, was chosen as the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed beneficiary, in June.

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Linda Perry, director of children’s services at Chestnut Tree House, said: “We are so grateful to Goodwood Festival of Speed and Lord March for choosing to support the hospice at this year’s event.

“Our staff and volunteers enjoyed the excitement of the weekend, raising funds at our stand via a fun charity raffle, vintage clothing sales, our lottery scheme and wristband sales.

“The opportunity to meet so many visitors to the event and tell them about the work of Chestnut Tree House was also invaluable.”

The cash will be put to good use, helping to provide vital care for some of the 300 children and young adults the service supports.

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It costs an incredible £6,850 to pay for a single day of all the care services at Chestnut Tree House and in the community, so this amount has generated enough funding to pay for more than ten days of care.

At the festival, the hospice worked with Goodwood’s official charity partner, The Richard Burns Foundation, to raise further funds with bucket collections as well as at the event’s ball, hosted by Lord March.

Lord March’s mother, the Duchess of Richmond and Gordon, presented the cheque to the service.

She received a bouquet of flowers from one of the children who is cared for by the hospice and enjoyed a tour of the building and grounds.

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She was accompanied by Kate Higton, of the Richard Burns Foundation.

Kate said: “Working with Chestnut Tree House at the festival of speed has been an incredibly positive experience.

“We are delighted with the results and extremely proud to be able to support Chestnut Tree House, a charity local to Goodwood that has done some incredible work in providing care for both children and young adults over the past 11 years.”

For more details on Chestnut Tree House, see www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk

Related topics:GoodwoodArundelSussex