In the Press.
York Hotel’s £7,000 Easter Gift For Children’s Hospice
“Eggsrta” special Easter gift! Alison Wragg Martin House’s Community Fundraiser (left), and the Monkbar hotel’s June Nelsey with the fund-raising ducks. Picture by Malcolm Rouse
A York hotel has given a £7,000 Easter gift to the county’s only hospice for sick children.
The Best Western Monkbar Hotel, has raised the money for Martin House Hospice by selling small, fluffy yellow ducks to guests.
Each time a new arrival checks into the award-winning 99-bedroomed hotel, housekeeping staff leave the duck on the pillow with the hope it will be taken home in exchange for a donation of at least £1.
Since the scheme was introduced last year more than 4,000 have been sold, raising over £7,000.
Best Western Monkbar Hotel director June Nelsey said: “We are thrilled with the success of the scheme and delighted that we are able to make this presentation to Martin House Hospice.
“Liz Topi from City of York Council asked us if we could get involved. Because Martin House is such a brilliant cause we had no hesitation in helping.
June added: “It has been a very easy and effective way to raise quite a significant amount of money for this wonderful cause, and something we will continue to do until every duck has a new home!
“Unlike other hotel charity schemes, the donation wasn’t added to the guest’s bill - instead they got a keepsake with a bill!”
Liz Topi said: “June and the team have been terrific supporters of Martin House and I’m so pleased the duck on the pillow scheme has been so successful.”
She added the ducks are purchased from another charity, St Andrew’s Hospice, Aberdeen, thereby two good causes are actually benefiting from guests purchasing them.
Martin House Children’s Hospice, at Boston Spa near Wetherby, has nine specialist children’s bedrooms, eight family rooms for parents and siblings and six bedrooms in an adjoining unit for teenagers and young adults.
April 9, 2009