Celebrating our incredible fundraisers reaching the £50,000 milestone!
2 April 2025
This is a testament to their dedication, generosity, and community spirit
An incredible achievement for Mersey Cares
We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone for our charity—our online donations have now surpassed £50,000! This incredible achievement is a testament to the dedication, generosity, and community spirit of our fundraisers, who have worked tirelessly over the past year to support mental health and community services across Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Over the last 12 months, we have seen remarkable commitment from staff across all areas of Mersey Care, as well as members of the public, and corporate fundraisers who have come together to raise funds through a variety of challenges and events. From adrenaline-fueled skydives for Mental Health Awareness Week to endurance-testing treks like the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge—where 24 participants conquered the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough—our supporters have truly gone the extra mile to support people and services across Cheshire and Merseyside.
Other standout fundraising challenges included as part of our ongoing #MakeItMerseyCares campaign included the Liverpool Half Marathon, the Mersey Tunnel 10K, the Liverpool Santa Dash, and the Liverpool Cathedral Abseil. These events saw service users, staff, volunteers, and carers all stepping up to support our cause. Additionally, our Secret Santa appeal during the festive period was a massive success, ensuring that children in care and those accessing our children and young people's services felt valued and cherished at Christmas time. It enabled us to send more than 500 gifts out to services including toys, puzzles and books as well as baby items, gift cards and comfort items.
A large proportion of our fundraisers are Mersey Care staff members who are not only committed to their roles but also passionate about enhancing the services they provide. Their efforts are making a tangible difference to the people they care about and the communities they serve – enabling us to do some amazing things across the Trust that are making a real difference to people’s lives and experiences.
Clare McIntyre, part of the Granby Health Visiting Team took on Yorkshire Three Peaks alongside her colleagues.
“I met people from other teams that I would never meet usually, which has been amazing," she said.
“I have never done anything like this before. I wanted to do this to have fun, get fitter and support funding for our community and mental health services, and also to promote the health visiting service,” she said.
“After completing it I felt euphoric. The tired legs and sore feet are worth that sense of pride and achievement."
Supporting Staff Wellbeing
Beyond the financial impact of these challenges, these fundraising efforts play a crucial role in supporting staff wellbeing, encouraging our teams to look after their physical and mental health. Participating in challenges like these can significantly improve mental health, reduce stress, and foster a strong sense of teamwork and accomplishment – something particularly important to highlight as we mark Stress Awareness Month throughout April.
One of our non-staff fundraisers, Gareth Kinnair, a history teacher living in Merseyside (pictured, right) credits a Mersey Cares fundraiser with 'changing his life'. Gareth signed up for the Mersey Tunnel 10K in 2024 wanting to give back to Mersey Care following the care a loved one received from Trust services and staff. With no prior running experience he completed the 10k and has since gone on to run a number of longer distances including the Manchester and Liverpool half marathons, raising funds for a number of good causes along the way.
“The fundraiser for Mersey Cares has changed my life. Not only has it helped me achieve personal goals, but it has also allowed me to give back to a charity that truly made a difference for my family,” he said.
As we celebrate this incredible milestone, we are also looking ahead to the future. We are determined to go even further over the next 12 months, and we invite everyone to get involved! Whether it’s signing up for one of our exciting, organised fundraising events or coming up with your own creative ideas—from bake sales to sponsored silences—every contribution helps us continue our vital work.
Mersey Cares Charity Lead, Joanne Watson, expressed the team’s excitement at reaching this juncture, calling it a ‘truly special moment.’
"We’re absolutely delighted to have reached £50,000 in online donations, all thanks to the incredible generosity of our fundraisers and those who marked their achievements with sponsorship. The progress we’ve made in such a short time has been extraordinary, and the overwhelming support for our mission to enhance mental health and community services across the Mersey Care footprint has been truly inspiring. With these funds, we can go beyond what NHS funding alone can provide, making a real difference in people’s lives. It’s amazing to see so many people rallying behind us to turn possibilities into reality."
Recent projects we've supported with funding
We've been able to fund a range of fantastic initiatives across the Trust, including supplying essential items for our Later Life and Memory Services.
On Fern Ward, door wraps and murals have been installed to create a more supportive environment for people living with dementia. Over on Kingsley Ward, a bingo and karaoke machine, along with sensory and fidget toys, are making a meaningful impact on residents.
At Willow House (Older Adult Community Hub, Whiston), therapeutic dementia dolls, dementia clocks, and other sensory equipment are helping to enhance care and comfort. Meanwhile, our funding has also brought a Dementia Resource Library to life, allowing Admiral Nurses to loan valuable resources to service users.
A really special project we've been involved with this year is a collaboration with the Palliative Care Team to create bereavement cards, allowing staff to offer heartfelt condolences to families after the loss of a loved one. Additionally, we've funded memory boxes containing fingerprint keepsakes and other meaningful items to provide comfort and support during difficult times.
We're also continuing our work at Peasley Cross Hospital, providing indoor and outdoor games for the St Helens Recovery Group. These will support service users to get outside and use the Harry Blackman House Garden which was recently transformed during our corporate volunteering day. These initiatives will also be accessible by ward patients to enhance the recovery journey.
