Christmas has come early for LOROS after it received a bumper crop of toys following a special donation drive on ITV’s Daybreak for national hospice charity Help the Hospices.
The breakfast TV show asked viewers to donate toys in leading family leisure retailer Toys R Us for the Toy Box appeal throughout mid November (18-25).
More than 6,000 toys were donated across the UK as a direct result of the appeal.
Toys and other play equipment are widely used in children’s hospices for children with life-limiting conditions and their siblings, as well as by nurses providing hospice care to children in their own homes.
In addition, toys are also used in adult hospices by children visiting terminally ill relatives for play activities and as part of bereavement counselling. The types of toys that hospices use for these kind of sessions include sensory toys such as those that light up or create sounds, balls, play mats, instruments for music therapy and creative arts and crafts materials.
Maxine Trotter, Director of Fundraising at Help the Hospices, said:
“The Toy Box appeal really struck a chord with ITV’s viewers who gave generously and have showered our hospices with donations of toys.
“We are really grateful to Daybreak for organising this appeal to support the work of hospices which provide vital care for children and adults. In addition to increasing toy donations, the appeal really helped raise public awareness about the value of hospice care in a very engaging way.”
Toy Box presenter Mark Wright said:
“Daybreak’s Toy Box appeal is a great way of giving a little Christmas treat to those in hospices across the holiday season. Whether it’s a small toy, or a larger gift, it will certainly bring some festive cheer”.
The Toy Box appeal is linked to ITV’s Text Santa, as Help the Hospices is one of six chosen charities for this. Toys R Us have agreed that for every toy donated, they will donate £1 to the Text Santa appeal.
Notes to editors:
Help the Hospices is the UK’s leading charity for hospice care which supports and champions the work of over 200 hospices across the UK.
We are the national voice for hospice care, we drive innovation and excellence and campaign on key sector issues. For further information visit helpthehospices.org.uk
For media enquiries please contact Louiselowman@loros.co.uk
Text Santa raises money and awareness for six UK based charities offering life-changing services to people near you. This year's chosen charities are Age UK, Barnardo’s, BeatBullying, British Heart Foundation, CLIC Sargent and Help the Hospices.
Ant & Dec, Phillip Schofield & Holly Willoughby and Christine Bleakley & Paddy McGuinness are the presenter line-up for Text Santa, ITV’s annual charity appeal, broadcasting on Friday 20 December.
Text Santa is an important part of ITV's Corporate Responsibility programme, using its reach to millions of people to help inspire, engage and empower viewers to make a difference. The organisation does not make any profit from the appeal and is proud that, with investment from ITV and support from Text Santa's partners and supporters, 100% of donations made by viewers go directly to the charities Text Santa supports. Daybreak is on ITV, weekdays, 6am-8.30am. itv.com/daybreak
