Award winning fundraising

It’s not every day that a charter train is branded with the Martin House Children’s Hospice logo, travelling the length and breadth of the UK. But thanks to a charity fundraising team from Network Rail, DB Cargo and volunteers from the Branch Line Society, that’s exactly how this fundraising story goes.

The collaboration has raised over £250,000 for Martin House, by running several special fundraising charters. The charters were started after a Network Rail colleague, Charlotte Bullock, used the services at Martin House to help care for her son Luca who was born with multiple disabilities. Both Charlotte and Luca have since passed away, however they remain the inspiration for the team’s ongoing fundraising efforts.

The Heart of Gold Award winners

And it doesn’t stop there. The Martin House Fundraising Team recently won the Heart of Gold Award by the Railway Benevolent Fund, which celebrates those in the rail industry who make a real difference in their workplace or community. The charity fundraising team includes Dave Jenkins, Quentin Hedderly, Richard Corser, Ross Taylor, Andrew Denton, Jonathan Lawton, Mark Bridel BEM, Jerry Dickinson and Kevin Adlam, who work in their own time to plan and operate the charitable charter services all over Great Britian.

Rosie Mellor-Silvester, our Head of Regional and Individual Giving Fundraising at Martin House Children’s Hospice, said:
“This is a fantastic extension of our ongoing partnership with the Charter Train team, and we’re incredibly grateful for their continued support which enables us to be there for children and young people across our region when they need us most.”

The incredible fundraising efforts, no matter how big or small, really make a difference to the lives of the children and families who are supported by Martin House Children’s Hospice. We provide family-led hospice care free of charge for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.

A huge thank you to the charity fundraising team DB Cargo and Network Rail for your continued support, from all of us at Martin House Children’s hospice.

To find out more about Martin House Children’s Hospice, our support services, specialist care or how you can get involved, visit us online here.