Three creative grandchildren from Great Barr have become stars of a citywide promotional campaign launched by John Taylor Hospice this week.
Sisters Charlotte and Abigail Holder and cousin Chloe Holder are three of 14 supporters featured in the campaign, which highlights the many different ways in which people can “Taylor-make a difference” by raising funds for the hospice.
The girls support John Taylor Hospice because that was where their grandfather was cared for in his last days in 2011. They’ve raised over £400 in less than 12 months by making and selling bracelets.
Twelve-year-old Charlotte said: “We came up with the idea together, to do something for Grandad. We sold our first few bracelets at my last birthday party – I asked my friends to all bring 50p to buy one.”
Abigail, aged 11, said: “My friends know about us making bracelets for charity but I haven’t told them about the advertising campaign yet. I’m really excited. I hope we get to go up in front of the whole school in assembly.”
The photographs used in the campaign were taken at the hospice by a professional photographer.
Ten-year-old cousin Chloe said: “I don’t normally like having my photo taken but I didn’t mind this time – it was quite fun.”
The Holder family from Great Barr have been raising money for the hospice since 2011 in memory of husband, father and grandfather Douglas Holder.
Charlotte and Abigail’s mother Emma Holder, aged 38, said: “As a family we’ve done everything to raise money for John Taylor Hospice from a funeral collection through to half marathons and fun runs. We are always happy to support them as they looked after our family so well.”
Campaign posters featuring the girls’ story can be seen on Old Walsall Road and Aldridge Road.
Fundraisers Arfan Hussain, James Deen, Michael Younger, Siobhan Walsh, and staff at scrap metal company Taroni’s also feature on several other posters which are dotted around the city, along with patients Ken Spencer and Amanda Liburd and palliative care assistant Matt Hinton.
The posters can be seen on taxi tip seats, in carriages on the Lichfield to Bromsgrove train line, on various buses including the back of a number 11 bus and on a billboard on Dudley Road. And the hospice has two taxis liveried with its branding and its motto – every moment matters – in the city.
Unfazed by their new status as local celebrities, Charlotte, Abigail and Chloe are now working on a prototype for a pen holder made from cardboard and decorated with wool, which they hope to sell next.
“We’ve got lots of ideas for what we could make and it’s all for charity,” said Charlotte. “Making napkin rings is another idea we’ve had, also stockings in time for Christmas. Basically anything that’s fun to make and easy to sell.”
Emma added: “We’re all very proud of them. The girls have spent their own pocket money buying the loom bands to make the bracelets and have put so much time and effort into it.”
Staff at the hospice became friends with the Holder family while caring for Douglas, aged 66.
Charlotte and Abigail’s father Paul Holder, 46, said: “The staff at John Taylor Hospice are considerate, compassionate, not too intrusive – the perfect balance. And although I’m sure they face difficult situations, day in day out, you wouldn’t know it from how bright and bubbly they all are, the way they all live life to the full and pass that on to the patients – it’s like a big family.
“Every moment matters just as much to the staff as it did to us as a family. It’s really not just a strapline, ‘every moment matters’ is embodied by all of them, it’s in the air, they’ve made it their mission statement.”
Head of brand and media at John Taylor Hospice Diane Parkes, said: “We’re very grateful to Charlotte, Abigail and Chloe, and to all of our other supporters, for their hard work raising funds for the hospice.
“The involvement of our supporters has also made this advertising campaign special. The very people who are supporting us are now sharing their stories with other people across the city and we can have no better ambassadors than families who have experienced our care.”
Every day more than 600 people across Birmingham and their families will receive the care they need from John Taylor Hospice staff and volunteers.
Through the supporters’ stories, the hospice hopes to encourage more people to visit their its website at www.johntaylorhospice.org.uk, make a donation, or raise funds themselves.
The posters will run for four weeks, with other aspects of the campaign running into 2016.
“Everyone can be part of the campaign by looking out for John Taylor Hospice’s fully branded taxis which are somewhere on the streets of Birmingham,” added Diane. “And if you see either of them, snap a quick photo and upload it to our Facebook page to enter our ‘Spot the Taxi’ competition, for which we’ve got monthly prizes up for grabs.”
