City News

More than 50 employees took the plunge down the 32 metre building of Birmingham International Airport’s Head Quarters today and raised over £8,500 for the worthwhile charity, Acorns Children’s Hospice. Acorns, which is the Airport’s nominated charity this year, organised the event to raise much needed funds to help children with life limiting illnesses and their families, and Airport staff jumped at the chance to help out.

Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham International Airport was first over the edge with David Strudley, CEO of Acorns. Commenting on his abseil, Paul said: “It was a very daunting experience when you first go over that edge and it’s easy to think 32 meters is not much but it is when you are stood on the top of a building! The outcome was definitely worth it for the £8,500 we have raised so far.

“Having recently visited the Acorns hospice in Selly Oak I am delighted that we have chosen such a worthwhile cause for our nominated charity this year. Acorns provides a fantastic service to our local community and with the cost of looking after a child at £450.00 per day they really can do with all the support that they can get. It is fantastic that so many of our staff members were able to join in on the day and show their support for Acorns.”

Last month Acorns was forced to launch a new appeal to help protect its future. The Acorns Fragile Lives Appeal sees the local community doing all that it can to raise important funds and awareness to help see Acorns through the current recession and protect its nursing care and support services well into the future. It is Acorns vision that every life limited child and their family living in the region can access the specialist care and support they so desperately need.

David Strudley, CEO of Acorns who abseiled with Paul Kehoe commented: “We are absolutely thrilled that Birmingham International Airport has chosen Acorns as its nominated charity this year. Acorns relies on important partnerships such as this to help raise important awareness across the region and vital funds to support our services. Acorns is currently caring for over 600 children living locally with incurable illnesses and supporting their parents too at every step of the way. It is an unfortunate fact that the demand for Acorns services grows daily and we rely on partnerships and donations to support the majority of our income requirements. It was superb to be able to launch the new Birmingham Airport and Acorns partnership today with such an exciting event. Both Paul and I really enjoyed getting involved in the abseil and launching this from a such a great height.”

Birmingham International Airport started its association with Acorns back in December 2008 when it raised over £1600 in a raffle at its Christmas Party. It is now hoped that Acorns can maximise awareness and fundraising opportunities available at Birmingham Airport.

Acorns offer tailored nursing care for each life limited child; short breaks, emergency and end-of-life care at its three hospices: Acorns in Birmingham, Acorns in the Black Country and Acorns for the Three Counties, plus round the clock support at home through the Community Team.