New Morrisons charity partnership with Together for Short Lives

Welcome news for Francis House Children’s Hospice today as a new partnership launches between supermarket giant, Morrisons and charity, Together for Short Lives that will benefit families caring for a seriously ill child from across Greater Manchester.

Together for Short Lives and Morrisons are set to raise vital funds for children’s hospices across the country, just like Francis House, as part of a flagship three-year-partnership launching 15 February 2022.

Francis House will be twinned with more than 20 Morrisons stores within a 30 mile radius of the Didsbury based hospice including: Reddish, Grafton Street in Manchester, Eccles and Dukinfield.

Francis House fundraising officer Julie Williams said: “We are very excited to be part of this national partnership with Together for Short Lives and Morrisons and are looking forward to working with all of the Morrisons stores across the Greater Manchester area.

“Francis House touches the lives of more than 550 families who are caring for a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition. We are here for the whole family through their good days, their tough days and their last days.

“The partnership will mean communities, Morrisons colleagues and customers will be supporting families who are facing the toughest of challenges and helping them make the most of every moment that they have together.”

The support of Morrisons will help Francis House be there for families of children like Jack Nesbitt diagnosed at four years of age with Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome: a rare genetic disease that affects the brain and immune system.

Jack’s mum Tina from Stockport explains: “Jack’s like a newborn baby – he can’t hold his head up and he doesn’t talk. But he’s got an amazing smile, and he loves his big sister Sophie,

“Francis House have stepped in when we really need them – if we’re at a point where we’re desperate for a break they’ve really helped us feel like a family again.

“It’s somewhere where you can come and remember what it’s like to be a mum or a dad or a parent, rather than a nurse doing medical interventions.”

Every Morrisons store is calling on local shoppers to join them for their special ‘Butterfly Bonanza’ between 14-27 February – a fabulous fortnight of fundraising activities to mark the launch of the partnership, as the charity’s famous butterfly flies up and down the country in support of seriously ill children.

Together for Short Lives CEO, Andy Fletcher says: “Hearing the news that your child is seriously ill is devastating – families can be left feeling scared and alone. I can’t tell you what a difference this amazing new partnership will make for these families. Knowing that Morrisons colleagues up and down the country are on their side, means the absolute world.

“The money raised through our partnership will give families access to vital care from local children’s hospices and help them to spend less time worrying and more time making memories together. It will also enable us to reach thousands more families caring for a seriously ill child who need support.”

Every year Francis House organises an Easter chick appeal involving the sale of thousands of knitted chicks to local schools and businesses to raise vital funds. In the run up to Easter Morrisons shoppers can get involved by donating crème eggs used to fill the chicks at their local store.

Morrisons CEO, David Potts says: “Together for Short Lives is an amazing charity which supports families through immensely difficult times, and hearing the very important stories from families who have received their support was incredibly moving for everyone at Morrisons. I’m really looking forward to our partnership with Together for Short Lives and helping to raise vital funds to support families with seriously ill children and the wonderful hospices that care for them.”