Morrisons charity partnership with Together for Short Lives launches

Welcome news for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, as today a brand new partnership launches between supermarket giant, Morrisons and charity, Together for Short Lives that will help ensure that no family faces the death of their child alone.

Together for Short Lives is the only charity supporting the UK’s children’s hospices, including CHAS and families facing the heartbreak that their child will die young.

Together for Short Lives and Morrisons are set to raise vital funds for children’s hospices across the whole country, including CHAS, as part of a flagship three-year-partnership launching 15 February 2022.

Iain McAndrew, Director of Fundraising and Communications at CHAS, said: “We are so incredibly excited, as a member of Together for Short Lives, that children and families that CHAS supports all over Scotland will benefit from this innovative partnership with Morrisons.

“For thirty years, families across Scotland have been able to turn to CHAS. Uniquely, we work across Scotland providing emotional, practical and medical support. To continue our work and ensure that we reach every child and family that needs our support, this partnership will play a vital role in supporting our work over the next three years. A heartfelt thank you from everyone at CHAS for helping keep the joy alive even in the face of death.”

The partnership will help CHAS families like Gemma Munro and Andrew Couper from Kirkcaldy, Fife, who lost their beloved baby daughter, Georgia on 7 June 2021.

Georgia was born at 25 weeks and six days and spent most of her short time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Edinburgh before finally moving to Rachel House in Kinross where she received dedicated end of life care.

Gemma Munro said: “Georgia spent her final hours at Rachel House, free of the hospital environment, free from all her tubes and constant buzzing medical equipment. Georgia was given the chance to be cradled like a baby, have the fresh air upon her face and taken on a walk around the garden listening to the sounds of the birds chirping on the quiet Monday evening.

“We went through the worst time in our life but it was made a little easier having the right support around us. We can’t thank CHAS enough for their ongoing support.”

Together for Short Lives CEO, Andy Fletcher says:

“Hearing the news that your child is seriously ill is devastating – families can be left feeling scared and alone. I can’t tell you what a difference this amazing new partnership will make for these families. Knowing that Morrisons colleagues up and down the country are on their side, means the absolute world.

The money raised through our partnership will give families access to vital care from local children’s hospices and help them to spend less time worrying and more time making memories together. It will also enable us to reach thousands more families caring for a seriously ill child who need support.”

Every Morrisons store is calling on local shoppers to join them for their special ‘Butterfly Bonanza’ between 14-27 February – a fabulous fortnight of fundraising activities to mark the launch of the partnership, as the charity’s famous butterfly flies up and down the country in support of seriously ill children.

Morrisons CEO, David Potts says:

“Together for Short Lives is an amazing charity which supports families through immensely difficult times, and hearing the very important stories from families who have received their support was incredibly moving for everyone at Morrisons. I'm really looking forward to our partnership with Together for Short Lives and helping to raise vital funds to support families with seriously ill children and the wonderful hospices that care for them."