Dive raises money for Acorns.

More than 90 employees from the home of Cadbury have raised over £17,000 with a sponsored Belly Flop Splash in aid of Acorns Children’s Hospice.

In its third and final year, the Belly Flop Splash event saw each participant dive into a Cadbury-inspired purple pool last Friday, October 24, and swim 32 lengths in aid of the charity.

Phil Thurston, head of manufacturing at the Bournville site said: “This year’s Belly Flop Splash has been another successful event and we are really grateful to everyone who got involved to show their support and in particular Michael Huggins, one of our Bournville based community champions and Cadbury Foundation trustee who organised the event and encouraged colleagues across the site to get involved.

“Starting the event three years ago, we did not think we would raise this much. It’s an honour to support such a worthy charity who has supported so many families and children in the region for the past 25 years. Thank you to all our employees who plunged into the purple pool to support the community as part of Global Volunteer Month.”

Taking place at Harborne Pool and Fitness Centre, the day was attended by Commonwealth gold medalist Jodie Simpson, along with Team GB’s paratriathlete Melissa Reid and Paralympic athlete Mikail Huggins, guide runner to Libby Clegg.

Melissa Reid & her team TR1 Swim have been fundraising for the Belly Flop Splash since April last year and have raised over £500. She said: “Everyone has trained so hard during the past few months and it definitely paid off on the day. I am proud to have taken part in such an exciting event where there was real energy and enthusiasm. It’s been a brilliant event to be part of and show our support to.”

Laura Richards, corporate fundraising officer at Acorns Children’s Hospice, added: “Mondelēz International is one of our biggest supporters and we are so grateful to have received such a large amount of money. It will support us in our aim of helping to provide palliative care to the 2,000 plus life limited children and their families living in the region.

“The Belly Flop Splash is such a fun event to be involved with and we cannot thank Mondelēz enough for their support over the past three years.”

In addition, Mondelēz International employees hosted a fund-raising event on the evening of the swim for Acorns. For more information, please visit www.mondelezinternational.com