Twenty-one members of staff from the Holiday Inn, Triangle Health and Fitness Club and La Bonne Auberge were on parade to launch a year-long fundraising partnership between Kilbryde Hospice and Holiday Inn, Glasgow – East Kilbride.
The Holiday Inn, Glasgow – East Kilbride celebrates its 21st Birthday in May. To celebrate this landmark the Holiday Inn, Glasgow – East Kilbride have accepted the challenge to raise £21,000 for Kilbryde Hospice this year.
Speaking at the launch of the 21 Gun Salute! partnership Bruce Robbie, General Manager of the Holiday Inn, Glasgow – East Kilbride remarked, “What a wonderful way to celebrate our birthday. All the staff felt it was important to give something back to the local community, and we loved the inventiveness of the #21GunSalute! partnership. At Holiday Inn, we pride ourselves on the level of care we give our guests; and that’s what Kilbryde Hospice do so well – they look after people. It’s an ambitious target, but all the staff are going all guns blazing to reach and exceed this target. I’m sure our customers and suppliers will support us all the way.”
The partnership will see eight formal 21 Gun Salute! events take place over the next 12 months. These include a Firewalk, a Ladies Lunch and culminate in an extravagant Spring Ball at the Holiday Inn, Glasgow – East Kilbride in March 2013. Moreover, 21 Holiday Inn staff are undertaking their own fundraising adventures, including a sponsored silence, car wash and cupcake bake. Bruce is leading a team of six staff members up Ben Nevis in May. And for each of the first 21 members of staff that commits to raise money for Kilbryde Hospice, the Holiday Inn, Glasgow – East Kilbride intends to pledge the first £21.00!
First up, is Pamela Wright, Sales Manager the Holiday Inn, Glasgow – East Kilbride who has fearlessly signed up to walk on fire for Kilbryde Hospice. Pamela is taking part in the first ever Kilbryde Hospice Firewalk on Sunday 4th March bravely tackling 20ft of burning hot coals. Pamela said, “I’m really excited about the 21 Gun Salute! partnership and the upcoming firewalk. Friends and family have been extremely supportive in my fundraising efforts to date. I am aware this is a massively important year for Kilbryde Hospice. It’s fantastic that building work will get under way this year and I, like the rest of the Holiday Inn staff, are proud to be playing our part.”
Stuart Glen, Fundraising Manager at Kilbryde Hospice praised the efforts of the Holiday Inn, Glasgow – East Kilbride staff, “The Holiday Inn have been phenomenal supporters of the hospice in the past. Their 21st Birthday and our plans to build this year seemed to make the 21 Gun Salute! partnership a perfect match. However, I’ve been blown away by the uptake from the staff – I genuinely cannot thank them enough.”
Stuart also reiterated the need for others to the support the hospice, “2012 is set to be a momentous year for Kilbryde Hospice with building due to begin in a matter of months. It would not have been possible without the support of thousands of local supporters. But your support is needed now more than ever. With an estimated build cost of £3 million, supporters’ donations really are funding bricks and mortar right now.
So whether you’re a local business like Holiday Inn, Glasgow – East Kilbride, a community group, sports club, school or compassionate individual, please consider doing something special for Kilbryde Hospice this year. Let’s make sure South Lanarkshire gets its first in-patient hospice now, not later.“