Wolverhampton company helps families of children in hospital

Annual charity choice raises funds for Sick Children’s Trust.

Wolverhampton-based logistics specialist Pallet-Track has raised £11,000 for The Sick Children’s Trust which will be used to provide 366 nights of accommodation for families with sick children.

Following the trust’s work with the grandson of network trustee Roy Dowen, Pallet-Track chose the organisation as its 2016 charity partner.

Jordan Dowen was 15 when he was hit by a car and subsequently placed into a medically-induced coma for over four weeks at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. The Sick Children’s Trust stepped in when Jordan’s parents were struggling with the daily commute from north Norfolk to the specialist hospital, offering them accommodation at the charity’s Acorn House.

Acorn House is one of ten Sick Children’s Trust Homes from Home, and provides free accommodation, as well as emotional and practical support, for families with seriously ill children being treated at Addenbrooke’s. Nigel Parkes, Pallet-Track founder and managing director, said: “The trust offers invaluable support to families and I could not think of a better charity to support in 2016. The Sick Children’s Trust operates 10 Homes from Home across the UK and relies solely on voluntary income to support up to 146 families each night.

“Our whole pallet network supported this choice of charity, along with Jordan and his family during this difficult time. We’re delighted that he is on the road to full recovery and to have raised so much money to help other families”

Laura Leverton, regional fundraiser at The Sick Children’s Trust, said: “We’re thrilled by Pallet-Track’s support over the last year, and want to thank everyone who has helped raise a fantastic £11,000. While accommodation is free for families, it costs the charity £30 to support a family for one night, keeping them together with their sick child when it matters most. On behalf of families like Jordan’s who rely on The Sick Children’s Trust’s ‘Homes from Home’ during the most difficult of times, thank you.”

Sherridan Dowen, Jordan’s father and managing director at Lynn Star, said: “We are exceptionally grateful to The Sick Children’s Trust for the accommodation they provided during that very challenging time. We were thrilled when Pallet-Track chose the trust as its charity of the year and are over the moon that so much has been raised to provide this invaluable support to so many more families.”

Pallet-Track choose one charity each year to support with 2017’s partner to be announced very shortly. To find out more about The Sick Children’s Trust, visit www.sickchildrenstrust.org.