Improving lives
This week is your chance to help raise money for colleagues in need via our in-house charity, the Rowland Hill Fund (RHF).
The Fund supports colleagues, past and present, and their dependents. It can provide financial help with rent, mortgage and utility bill arrears, home modifications, hospital travelling expenses and much more.
In 2017-2018, colleagues raised a fantastic £145,000 for the Fund – the highest amount ever. There were 420 successful applications to the Fund and £500,000 was given to our people.
This week we hear from some of the people whose lives have been changed for the better by the money they received from the Fund.
Postman Meirion Roberts and his daughter, Bethany, received £2,400 for medical treatment
Meirion Roberts approached the Fund for financial support towards treatment for his 15-year-old daughter, Bethany.
Bethany suffers from GPA Vasculitis (Granulomatosis with polygangitis), a rare condition which causes the walls of the blood vessels to become inflamed. This usually affects the nose, sinuses, lungs and kidneys. It can however also impact other organs. The condition can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and other serious issues, especially without effective treatment.
Bethany has had lifesaving treatment on the NHS designed to bring the condition into remission. Currently she is undergoing chemotherapy to suppress her immune system. To date, she has received two lots of treatment aimed at curing her condition. Each treatment costs £1,200. It is currently not possible to estimate how many treatments she will require in total.
Meirion tells us that Bethany has noticeably improved. He has completed crowd funding through Facebook and has received a donation from a local church, which have both helped provide funding for previous treatments. The Fund will help towards further treatment for Bethany.
Our fundraising week is your opportunity to support the Fund by raising as much money as you can towards the £160,000 target the Fund has for 2018/19. The money will then be reinvested directly into helping our colleagues.
You can request a charity bucket and other materials, such as posters and leaflets, by contacting the Fund directly:
If you know someone who would benefit from help and support, contact the Fund via the confidential Rowland Hill Fund helpline on 0345 600 4586.
