THE Morrisons store in Basingstoke has helped raise thousands to support children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions.

Hospices for children and young people in Sutton Scotney, Naomi House & Jacksplace, partnered with six Morrisons across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, including Basingstoke, Totton, Horndean, Gosport, Newport and Sandown, and has received over £35,000.

Employees across these stores hosted fundraising activities throughout the year to raise money for the hospices, from an in-store sponsored silence, an ice bucket challenge and a virtual bike ride up Mount Everest, to trekking for 12 hours across the Three Peaks.

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Throughout Morrisons stores in the UK, more than £5m has been raised for Together for Short Lives, a UK charity that makes sure the 99,000 seriously ill children and their families can make the most of every moment they have together.

Naomi Hodgson, charity champion at Morrisons Basingstoke, said: “Hitting the £5 million mark for Together for Short Lives and knowing that places like our twinned children’s hospice, Naomi House & Jacksplace will benefit is amazing. Working with the Naomi House & Jacksplace team has been an absolutely wonderful experience. They are so supportive which really helps me in my job as charity champion to help raise as much as possible for this vital cause.”

Ella Clayton, senior fundraiser at Naomi House & Jacksplace, added: “We are so delighted to be twinned with six fantastic Morrisons stores. Over the last 18 months, we’ve developed a close bond with our amazing Charity Champions at Morrisons. Recently, it was great to show them around our hospices and be able to highlight the impact of their incredible fundraising, first-hand. A huge thank you to all the staff for their dedication, hard work and commitment to our charity.”