Archus continues to build on its fundraising mission - helping charities improve healthcare at home and around the globe

Each year, we challenge our four regional teams in London, Birmingham, Leeds and Bristol to identify a charity to support over the year. These charities become very close to our hearts and we are fortunate to build very strong relationships with the people who run them and those that they help.

Here’s an overview of the projects that we’re supporting in 2021 and details about our first fundraising events held over the summer.

Sheffield Children's Hospital's helipad appeal

Our Leeds-based team has chosen to support the Sheffield Children's Hospital's helipad appeal. Sheffield Children’s Hospital is the designated Major Trauma Centre for children in South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw. In 2018, 15% of arrivals were by air ambulance, which landed in the dark park across a main road from the hospital. A state-of-the-art, floodlit helipad on the hospital roof would mean patients can land and be transferred safely any time of the day or night and whatever the weather. No more unnecessary waiting to get local children to the urgent medical care they need.

The first fundraising challenge set for 2021 was to complete the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge. This 24 mile (38.6km) walk across the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Inglebrough ascends 1585m (5200ft) – with three of our team members taking part to ‘walk the walk’. Visit their JustGiving page to see how they got on.

The Tafika Fund – delivering healthcare to a remote African community

The South West and London teams have been fundraising to supply basic healthcare to the village of Mkasanga, a remote African community in Mwanya, Luangwa Valley, Zambia. Mkasanga is home to 2,036 people but only has one outpatient clinic room for administering first aid and to host a visiting vaccination service. The clinic was built in 2006 and continues to be financially supported by The Tafika Fund. Our fundraising will bolster the clinic’s services; helping to provide maternal and child health support, preventative healthcare education, family planning guidance, primary healthcare training and a consistent provision of medical supplies.

To raise funds, the South West team set themselves the target of raising £500 by completing a 10km walk during August - from Bristol to Bath along the old railway path. This 2-hour walk was the perfect first challenge, particularly as it finishes at a pub for much needed refreshment! You can visit their Just Giving Page here.

For the same cause, our London team challenged themselves to complete a 25km walk in just six hours, crossing 16 bridges on the River Thames between Putney and Tower Bridge. They smashed their £1500 fundraising target during the walk on Friday 23rd July 2021 and you can still sponsor them here.

Sparkhill Foodbank, Birmingham – helping local people in crisis

Members of the Archus Midlands revisited Sparkhill Foodbank in August for the third year in a row to support this local charity with its daily operations. The team were tasked with labelling food donated to the charity, sorting food into categories and creating nutritionally balanced food parcels. These parcels are distributed as emergency food to local people who are referred to the foodbank in crisis. This project and Archus’ long term contribution to it are part of the drive to combat local poverty and hunger. To build on its local impact, the Midlands team is also researching other local charities to identify where else their time can support the local community.

Each of us at Archus is striving to make a positive impact on society - both in our work and in our fundraising initiatives. Know of other causes that are actively working to improve healthcare around the globe? Let us know.