Local woman and member of staff at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, Sarah Firth, has raised over £1000 since March 2020 for the Trust’s charity, Better Lives, through her painted rocks project. Sarah will now continue to help raise money for the charity with her design featuring in this year’s pack of charity season’s greetings cards.

Following the Care Trust’s annual season’s greetings card competition, which opens to members of the public, patients and staff, a photograph of Sarah Firth’s painted rocks was chosen as the winner, and sits alongside four runners up in the Better Lives pack of charity season’s greetings cards.

Following a rock painting course three years ago, Sarah embarked on her artistic adventure in March this year when the first of the government’s COVID-19 coronavirus lockdowns began.  Initially, as a way of unwinding after working in a busy department during the height of the pandemic, Sarah soon decided to sell the rocks with a target of £100 for Better Lives.  Fast forward to November 2020 and 152 ‘#BetterLivesRocks’ have now been delivered to homes and offices all around the Bradford district, raising an incredible £1041 (as of 19.11.20) so far.

Sarah Firth, Personal Assistant at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, shares how the journey has been for her: “It started out by asking my friends what colours they would like, but I started to get more specific requests, from memory stones for pets, to a copy of someone’s tattoo.

I hand on heart thought the requests would fizzle out but there has been a steady flow from staff at the Trust as well as some recent requests from businesses.  I will take some time off over the festive period but will keep my order book open to continue raising money for such a fantastic charity, which has supported me and my family in times of need.”

Catherine Jowitt, Charity and Volunteer Lead at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, shares how valued charitable support is:  “Having relaunched Better Lives back in May 2020, there have already been lots of fundraising opportunities that people like Sarah have got involved in.  From our summer walking challenge, to Sarah’s Better Lives Rocks project, and now our season’s greetings cards, we’re really grateful for everyone who has supported the charity so far.   Their donations will directly enhance and support core NHS-funded services, which look after those people across the Bradford district who need it the most.”

If members of the public would like to support the charity over the holiday period, the charity is selling limited edition packs of x10 season’s greetings cards, which feature five designs.  The packs cost £4.50, postage and packing included, with 65% going directly back into the charitable funds to enhance care beyond the NHS core offer.  To purchase a pack of cards, please email betterlivescharity@bdct.nhs.uk, with your full name, postal address, amount of packs you wish to receive, and they will get in touch with payment details.

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