Wythenshawe-based Kids Funtime Beds has raised over £5,000.00 for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and celebrated by providing one of its patients with a bed of her own.
Since 2015 the company has donated £4 for every picture, video or letter received from its customers. The total amount raised has now topped £4,500 and business owner Tony Smith has pledged to renew his commitment to fundraising for the hospital by making a further donation bringing the donation up to £5,000.
Tony has also donated a bed to one of the hospital’s patients, 8-year-old Tia Taggart. Tia has been treated on-and-off on Ward 84, the oncology and haematology ward at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital for the past two years. Tia is battling an aggressive form of cancer called Ewing Sarcoma and undergoes chemotherapy for tumours in her pelvis and legs as well as rounds of radiotherapy to treat her bone and lung cancers. Despite everything Tia has been through she is determined to help others, and is a loyal fundraiser for the hospital’s charity.
Commenting on the fundraising initiative Tony said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to make this donation and to provide a bed to Tia. As we make fun beds for kids they are our ultimate customer and we want to know that they are happy with the bed when it arrives. Our delivery team gives them a goody bag which include toys, sweets and a letter introducing the child to the people who made their bed and telling them to be good, work hard and have sweet dreams.
“We’ve always had a great connection with our customers and it’s a real vote of confidence when mum and dad choose to show us how happy the children are with their bed. Those photos and videos makes it really worthwhile and it is nice to be able to pass something back to other children who are having a tough time.”
Joel Oxberry Corporate Fundraising Manager at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity added: “We’re incredibly grateful to all the team at Kids Funtime Beds for supporting our Children’s Hospital. The money raised will make a big difference to the children treated at our hospital. We’d also like to thank Tony for the very kind gesture of donating a bed to Tia who is an inspirational little girl who always thinks of others first and so is very deserving of this treat.”
