Local charity boosted by £5,000 donation from North East region

A 95-year-old charity based in the North East has received a £5,000 donation thanks to our North East region.

The Chronicle Sunshine Fund welcomed the donation of £5,000 at its zipline day after applying for funding via Persimmon’s Community Champions scheme.

The Chronicle Sunshine Fund provides specialist and adapted equipment for children aged 0-19 living with disabilities, additional needs, and chronic and terminal illnesses across the North East region.

To raise essential charity funds, a number of volunteers took on the unforgettable experience of ziplining off the iconic Tyne Bridge.

Debbie Zaben, Sales Director at North East region, attended the charity’s zipline day to hand over a cheque for £5,000 to Siobhan Sargeant, Charity Director for the Chronicle Sunshine Fund.

The zip-lining challenge is a reference to the charity's heritage, having been founded almost a century ago after King George V attended the opening of the Tyne Bridge in 1928. At that time, the King gave £15 to support a trip to the coast for underprivileged children residing in the North East.

Persimmon’s donation will go towards living aids that are currently on the charity’s waiting list from their Spring equipment round, which will include an adapted bed and specialist seating.

At Persimmon we have donated over £1.5 million to charities, community groups and local organisations nationwide via its Community Champions scheme over the last two years. Donations of up to £6,000 are available to local community and charitable groups every quarter, with applications received via the Community Champions website.

The Mayor of Gateshead, Councillor Eileen McMaster, said “It was an honour to be able to attend the ziplining day and to see so many volunteers raising money for the Chronicle Sunshine Fund.

“The money from Persimmon’s Community Champions initiative will make a huge difference to the Sunshine Fund, which is an amazing local charity that has been helping families for almost a century.

“The support it gives to children in our region living with disabilities and chronic/terminal illness can be life-changing, so donations from businesses, such as Persimmon, is hugely beneficial by enabling them to help more young people and their families.”

Siobhan Sargeant, Charity Director for the Chronicle Sunshine Fund said: “We are exceptionally grateful for this donation, and we want to thank everyone at Persimmon for supporting our charity in this way.

“As one of the longest-running charities in our region, we are proud of the impact of the specialist equipment we provide and the family services we offer on local families caring for children with additional needs. It is only with the support of corporate partners like Persimmon that we are able to continue to change the lives of children with life-limiting and terminal illnesses.”

Presenting the cheque to the charity, Debbie Zaben, Sales Director at North East region, added, “At Persimmon, we care about leaving a lasting positive legacy in the communities that we build in.

“The Chronicle Sunshine fund is a fantastic local charity that makes a huge impact in the lives of so many families across the North East, and we are delighted to be able to support them.”

If you wish to contribute to the Chronicle Sunshine Fund, donations can be made at www.thesunshinefund.org/