Readers challenged to help hospice

A BUSINESS has launched a Christmas card competition to help it raise funds for St Nicholas Hospice Care and win a money-making challenge.

Phoenix Trading boss Deborah Stebbing has 12-year-old son Ryan to thank for the idea, which is designed to raise money for the Towergate Accumulator Challenge, which is sponsored by the East Anglian Daily Times and Mercury series.

Dozens of west Suffolk businesses were handed �50 and challenged to return as big a profit as possible to the hospice.

Phoenix Trading, of Bury St Edmunds, wants under-18s to design an A5 size Christmas card on white paper. Deborah wants designers to ask friends and family to sponsor their efforts and donate the cash to the hospice fundraiser via Phoenix.

The company is also raising money by donating profits from 20% of all product sales to the hospice.

Schools have been provided with information, entry and sponsorship forms, or young people can enter by contacting Deborah directly. The designs and sponsorship money need to be in by August 23.

All entries will be judged by local artist Katie Millard, and the winning design will be printed for sale up to Christmas. The winner will be notified by September and they will have the opportunity to see their card being printed and receive a copy. All sponsorship money and card sales will go directly to the hospice.

Deborah said “I thought the challenge was a fun and competitive way of helping the hospice and wanted to come up with something creative and different. This competition also works well with the Phoenix Trading business and I will be able to sell the winning card alongside my normal products. I really hope young people, schools and parents get behind this to help such a worthwhile local charity who do excellent work for many people”.

For more information contact Deborah on 01284 701562 or email deborah.stebbing@talktalk.net. The Phoenix Trading range can be viewed on the website www.phoenix trading.co.uk or you can obtain a brochure from Deborah.

What to do now...

Get sponsors and download a sponsor form from www.eadt.co.uk/mercury or pick one up from reception at the EADT offices in Woolhall Street, Bury St Edmunds or Old Market Place, Sudbury.

Design your card

Send your card, with your name, address, daytime telephone number and email, plus sponsorship money to: Deborah Stebbing, 27 Kirkstead Road, Bury St. Edmunds, IP33 2EW.

Closing date is August 23