Date published: 25 July 2018 by Digital Team

A mother who we support, delivered a speech about her son at the Co-op Property Awards at Lancashire Cricket Club, helping to raise over £95,000.

Clare’s family began receiving support from Rainbow Trust after her son was diagnosed with cancer. Clare’s stirring speech gave a very personal account of her family’s journey and the help that Rainbow Trust were able to give them, from diagnosis through recovery.

“The emotional support offered by Rainbow Trust has had an incredible impact on all our lives, not only through their visits, but also being at the end of the phone and just being confident that there is someone who can help if we need it,” she told the audience.

Clare’s speech included glowing individual praise for her Rainbow Trust Family Support Workers who helped her family to cope.

“When Sean and Callie came into our lives, the difference it made was instant, to all of us,” she said.

“The job of a Family Support Worker is so unique and highly skilled. Adam instantly clicked with Sean, and my daughter Megan with Callie too, which offered me such relief.”

Rainbow Trust were chosen by Co-op Property to be a beneficiary of their awards and charity event - there were over 600 people in attendance at the evening, which was hosted by football legend John Barnes.

David Roberts, Co-op Managing Director of Property, said:

“Our aim is to make a difference at the heart of local life, and so I would like to ‘thank’ everyone who helped us to raise such a fantastic sum for the Rainbow Trust – the charity provides a life-line for families in our communities who are struggling to cope, providing the support needed for families who have a child with life threatening or terminal illnesses, and helping them to make the most of their precious time together – the money raised will support the charity’s work, and help it to make a difference to many more families whose life has been turned upside down by illness.”

Oonagh Goodman, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Rainbow Trust, said:

“We are incredibly grateful that Co-op Property held such a fantastic event to help us fund our vital support for families with a seriously ill child. We would also like to give special thanks to Clare Finch, whose moving speech touched us all here at Rainbow Trust. We are proud that the support that we provided made the Finch family’s lives a little easier during their hardest times. All the money raised from the event will help Rainbow Trust to support families to make the most of the precious time they have together.”