Frank Whittle Partnership gives up chocolate for charity

Frank Whittle Partnership, one of Lancashire’s most prestigious architects practices, has been showing its support for Rosemere Cancer Foundation by getting employees to hand over their post-Christmas stash of chocolate to raise money for the charity’s annual Valentine’s Appeal.

The architects firm’s 40 Preston based employees have been gathering left over sweet treats from the festive season, as well as any other goodies which have been hanging around in kitchen cupboards at home, to raffle them off as part of a special fundraising initiative.

The chocolate amnesty is part of Rosemere’s annual Valentine’s Appeal, with individuals and businesses across the region being asked to get family members, friends and colleagues alike to hand over their unwanted chocolate, before raffling it off to raise much needed funds to support local cancer patients.

Now all the tasty treats have been collected at Frank Whittle Partnership, raffle tickets will go on sale to staff giving chocoholics the chance to win the entire stash. All proceeds raised will go towards Rosemere’s Valentine’s Appeal 2014, which is this year aiming to raise £50,000 to fund vital research and care for cancer patients across Lancashire and the South Lakes.

The Valentine’s Appeal will take place throughout February, with an array of awareness raising and fundraising events taking place throughout the region with local volunteers helping to make it happen.

The centrepiece of the appeal is the Valentine’s Concert by Candlelight, taking place on Thursday 13 February 2014, within the dramatic surroundings of Blackburn Cathedral. This year, soprano Camilla Kerslake will be making a return to headline the show, supported by the One Voice Community Choir, The Swing Band from St Christopher’s CE High School in Accrington and Ben Fourie on the French Horn. The evening will be hosted by John Gilmore from BBC Radio Lancashire.

Projects funded by Rosemere’s Valentine’s Campaign 2013 included the creation of a Patient Information Centre at the Rosemere Cancer Centre at Royal Preston Hospital and a pilot support programme for breast cancer survivors in Morecambe.

Anyone else wanting to stick to those healthy New Year’s resolutions and support their local cancer charity can take part in the Rosemere Valentines Appeal by organising their own chocolate amnesty. All they have to do is ask friends or colleagues to donate their unwanted chocolates to them and then organise to raffle them off before the end of February! For more information and a free poster to organise their chocolate amnesty, people can download the Rosemere Valentine’s Appeal Fundraising pack at www.rosemere.org.uk/Valentines

Martin Whittle, managing partner at Frank Whittle Partnership, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this year’s Rosemere Valentine’s Appeal, taking part in the chocolate amnesty is a really fun way to get everyone into the fundraising spirit. We hope that our involvement will encourage others to offer their support and help to fund Rosemere’s vital projects, helping as many local cancer patients and their families as possible.

Paula Richardson, regional fundraiser at Rosemere Cancer Foundation, said: “Taking part in the chocolate amnesty is the perfect way to kick-start a healthy 2014 and support the Rosemere Cancer Foundation at the same time. “By participating in the Valentine’s Appeal in any way, from donating chocolate to attending the Valentine’s Concert, you will be helping us get one step closer to our target, making a real difference to those being treated for cancer throughout our region.”