Kate Puc: Three decades of fundraising

Kate joined the fundraising team at Francis House in 1995.

Two women holding charity buckets stood in a bar in front of a tower of ten pence coins and a man stood behind preparing to push the stack of coins over — Toppling the tower of ten pence coins!

From trekking Machu Piccu to a bucket collection in Stockport… it’s all in a day’s work for Kate Puć. There has never been a dull moment for Francis House’s longest serving fundraiser, who clocked up 30 years of service in October, 2025.

Kate has worked for Francis House from the time of Sister Aloysius in the 1990s when the children’s hospice was fresh in the hearts and minds of the Manchester community.

She remembers the phone wouldn’t stop ringing as support flooded in to help Kirsty Howard raise millions of pounds to secure the future of the hospice.

Kate has a host of memories, including two Guinness world records. Lloyds Hotel Bowling Club, in Chorlton, set a record of 168 continuous hours of crown green bowls and Midshire Business Systems, organised a 72-hour football tournament which raised £45,000.

As a general fundraiser, Kate has adapted to different places. Meeting people from different walks of life, she gives talks to primary schools, high schools, women’s groups, attends golf days and gives support to anyone who needs it.

A photo-call with fundraisers at Sainsbury's in Stockport.

“On behalf of everyone at Francis House, I want to say a huge thank you to Kate Puc for 30 marvellous years of dedication and hard work. Kate’s passion for fundraising has helped us continue supporting hundreds of children, young people, and families through some of their toughest times. Kate has encouraged so many people to get involved and give generously, and her dedication and commitment have left a lasting mark on all of us. Thank you Kate for being such an important part of the Francis House family.”
Rachael Taylor, CEO of Francis House