St Ann’s Hospice is encouraging people to take advantage of a special Christmas tree recycling service this year to raise money for people with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses.
National charity JustHelping is organising Christmas tree collections in local areas to raise money for charities including St Ann’s Hospice.
Trees will be collected by volunteers from January 11-13, 2019, and trees can be registered now along with a voluntary donation.
The real Christmas trees are recyclable and are shredded into chippings to be used locally in parks and sports clubs. Last year community groups in the area collected nearly 1,600 trees and raised £15,650.96 for St Ann’s Hospice.
Clare Hinton, JustHelping’s Chief Executive, said: “We’re excited to see if we can raise even more money for charities like St Ann’s this year.
“JustHelping brings people from across the local community together to volunteer and raise funds for good causes like the hospice, and by recycling the trees we collect we are also helping the environment too.
“This year we’re collecting trees in SK2, SK3, SK4, SK5, SK6, SK7, SK8 and M20 postcodes, as well as parts of M21, M22, M33, WA14 and WA15. People can sign up online to book in to have theirs collected, and can make a donation to St Ann’s too.”
JustHelping was founded in Prestbury in 2012 through philanthropic support. More than £231,000 was raised from all the Christmas tree collections in 2018.
Eamonn O’Neal, Chief Executive of St Ann’s, said: “The money raised by the JustHelping team and the local community groups who collect the Christmas trees really does help us to make a difference to the lives of our patients and their families.
“This project is a perfect example of communities working together for the good of others, and shows a real sense of pride in Greater Manchester – something we know local people have so much of.
“Thanks very much to the whole team, and everyone who chooses to sign up for a tree collection and make a donation to the hospice. We can’t thank you enough.”