Pet shop donation gets Crawley family's children's charity off the ground

A Turners Hill family have been able to set up a new charity helping disabled children aftera £6,000 grant from Pets Corner.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Mar 2016, 14:00 BST
Sullivan Smith from Turners Hill whose parents, Richard and Fiona, have set up a charity called Sullivan's Heroes helping parents adapt their home to accommdate their disabled children. The charity has been launched thanks to a £6,000 grant from Pets Corner - picture submittedSullivan Smith from Turners Hill whose parents, Richard and Fiona, have set up a charity called Sullivan's Heroes helping parents adapt their home to accommdate their disabled children. The charity has been launched thanks to a £6,000 grant from Pets Corner - picture submitted
Sullivan Smith from Turners Hill whose parents, Richard and Fiona, have set up a charity called Sullivan's Heroes helping parents adapt their home to accommdate their disabled children. The charity has been launched thanks to a £6,000 grant from Pets Corner - picture submitted

Sullivan’s Heroes is the result of months of work by Richard Smith – a long term supplier for Pets Corner - and his wife Fiona.

During the process of adapting their own property for their disabled son, Sullivan, they discovered there was little in the way of financial assistance for families and their disabled children who required the necessary adjustments to live comfortably and safely in their homes.

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Tragically, after the family raised 90 per cent of the costs through various fundraising initiatives, which inspired them to set up the charity, Sullivan passed away in January 2015 shortly before the work on their home was completed.

Since then, it has been his parents’ mission to build brighter futures for other families in their son’s memory through the vital fundraising work of Sullivan’s Heroes.

The £6,000 from the ethical pet retailer, Pets Corner with a further pledge from the company to donate £5,000 per year have enabled them fulfill their dream.

Mr Smith said: “It has taken us over 18 months to get through, over and around all the hurdles in order to get Sullivan’s Heroes off the ground.

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“We are absolutely delighted that we have now been able to realise this incredibly important resource in our son’s memory for families who, like us, have nowhere to turn.

“We would like to thank Pets Corner for their generous donation, which will go towards helping families in the future.

“We don’t have the skills to save lives, but we certainly have the ability to change lives and that is what we are setting out to do, just like the many people who have helped us as parents and Sullivan throughout his life.”

Managing Director at Pets Corner Dean Richmond added: “It is particularly poignant that Sullivan was the son of one of our friends, and long term suppliers, Richard.

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“I have worked with Richard for a number of years and I have seen first-hand the effort and determination he and his wife Fiona have put in to the charity not only fundraising to make things better for their own family, but for the lives of others.

“I am delighted that Pets Corner is able to contribute towards the work Sullivan’s Heroes is doing and to help make a difference to families in a similar position across the UK.”

The funds donated by Pets Corner will help provide ongoing financial grants for disabled children and their families.

To find out more about Sullivan’s Heroes, please visit www.sullivansheroes.org