V Cars Celebrates £3000 Gift to Wallace and Gromits Grand Appeal

V Cars has raised £3237.60 from their seasonal campaign where a donation from every app booking during the festive period was made to Bristol Children’s Hospital’s Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal.

V Cars wants to thanks Bristol passengers who booked via the app to support the December campaign, despite not travelling as far or as often, because of lockdown limitations. The Grand Appeal provided invaluable support to the many children from across the South West and South Wales who spent Christmas and New Year in hospital, often unexpectedly, and needing urgent care.

Bristol Bears hooker, Harry Thacker, launched the private hire taxi firm’s initiative, which will also help those still in hospital. Harry and his young family know first hand the extent of the hospital’s expertise, having received tremendous support from the hospital since his six-month-old baby daughter, Eloise, was born with a heart condition.

Jack Price, Regional Director for V Cars, said: “We are delighted to have raised this sum for this fantastic cause. The work of The Grand Appeal clearly struck a chord with those choosing to book through our app and we very much appreciate that. Thanks also to Harry for getting behind our campaign. “These are very challenging times, so we really do appreciate all those who booked via our app.”

Helen Haskell, Corporate Partnerships Manager of Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal, said: “Companies like V Cars really make a difference to the work we do, as fundraising has suffered the impact of lockdown and we have not been able to hold our usual events. “With regular donors also under pressure from the pandemic, we greatly appreciate a substantial donation like this.”

This year, the Grand Appeal has continued to provide its services to support the staff, families and patients at Bristol Children’s Hospital despite the pandemic. These vital services have included family accommodation for parents, so they can be closer to their child in hospital – as well as providing the funding for ground-breaking research into the natural history of Covid-19. One hundred pounds funds four music therapy sessions, helping children to express their feelings and focus on something other than their treatment and £200 funds a week’s stay in family accommodation, which enables parents to stay close to their child, for them to be together at this special time of year.

V Cars has also supported the city throughout the pandemic – offering a Click and Collect Service, as well as providing a delivery service for takeaway food and medical prescriptions, to help those who were self-isolating or shielding. The company introduced additional safety and hygiene measures early on in lockdown, to reassure both passengers and driver partners and to keep the city moving safely and efficiently. Harry added: “Well done to V Cars for raising this total to help The Grand Appeal continue such fantastic work at Bristol Children’s Hospital, which really is a remarkable place.”