Nottingham Hospitals Charity has had some major weight thrown behind their ‘Big Appeal’ campaign (initially launched in 2016, re-launched September 2023), in the shape of local Championship rugby club, Nottingham RFU.

The players and staff over at Lady Bay helped announce the partnership at the start of this month, the new, corporate partnership having been launched at the rugby clubs hospitality marquee.

It is to be a partnership that will run throughout 2024 and is set to see a number of fundraising opportunities, and activities, taking place, which will be announced in due course, both through the club, and through the hospital’s charity arm.

Speaking at the launch, Paul Taylor, the General Manager of Nottingham Rugby Club, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Nottingham Hospitals Charity and we will be doing everything we can to get behind the Big Appeal.

“The Charity have done so much to help families going through difficult times and we want to play our part in helping NHC to continue to do so.

“Nottingham Rugby are proud to be part of the Nottingham community and can think of no better charity for us to support.”

Ollie Brewill, the Archers’ Commercial Marketing Manager added of the partnership: “We are delighted to be partnering with Nottingham Hospitals Charity, the work that has been done because of their support is absolutely outstanding.

“Everyone at Nottingham Rugby is really excited for this partnership moving forwards and we can’t wait to become more involved!

“It is extremely important for the right facilities to be in place throughout Nottingham’s hospitals, making sure that everyone receives the best treatment with the best possible equipment available to them, hence why the work that the Nottingham Hospitals Charity does is so vital.”

Based at the City Hospital on Embley Road, the charity is in place to help support that of the areas four NHS hospitals, Queen’s Medical Centre, City Hospital, Ropewalk House, and the Nottingham Children’s Hospital.

Working alongside a vast array of fundraisers, volunteers, patients, businesses, NHS staff, and other local communities, they aim to make hospital care across Nottingham the best it can be.

For further information about what they do, visit here

To find out more about the Big Appeal, and to watch a video going behind-the-scenes, visit here

Sophie Parkins, the Corporate Fundraiser at Nottingham Hospitals Charity, also spoke of the partnership, saying: “We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with Nottingham Rugby Club, to raise awareness and funds for the Big Appeal.

“The players and staff have been exceptionally supportive, and we are all excited to be working together.

“I’d like to thank all those we’ve worked with so far to get the partnership off the ground; their enthusiasm and passion for supporting Nottingham Children’s Hospital is inspiring, and I am really looking forward to the year ahead with lots of exciting events already being planned.”

To donate to the fundraiser, visit the JustGiving page here

Keep up-to-date with everything going on with the Nottingham Hospitals Charity via their Facebook and Twitter and through the website here.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NottinghamRugby the partnership with Nottingham Hospitals Charity will run during 2024.