GB Railfreight (GBRf) recently invited its train crew and staff to select a new charity partner, and their choice was the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Children's Charity.
The 1,400 train crew and staff were asked to submit their choice as the company's charity partner for the next two years.
Out of 50 different nominations, the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity stood out as the overwhelming choice.
The charity raises funds to support seriously ill children from across the UK who receive treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
During its two-year partnership, GB Railfreight will aim to raise as much money as possible for the charity through employee fundraising initiatives such as holding challenge events and payroll giving.
It is thanks to the generosity of supporters like GB Railfreight that GOSH Children's Charity can continue to fund the hospital's most urgent needs.
Sarah Bissell, Deputy Director of Relationship Fundraising at GOSH Charity
When deciding on their choice of charity partner, the GB Railfreight Charity Panel were moved by testimonies about the outstanding care that Great Ormond Street Hospital had given to several children known to the company's staff.
One such patient at the hospital was Dottie Rees, who is the daughter of GBRf Train Manager, John Rees.
In September 2020, Dottie was rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital where she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and spent 17 days in intensive care.
She has received numerous rounds of chemotherapy and continues to visit the hospital twice a month for specialist appointments.
Marking the beginning of its the partnership with GB Railfreight, the hospital's Charity Fundraising Team gave the GB Railfreight Charity Panel and its Chair. Sarah Whurr, a guided tour of Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Earlier this year, GB Railfreight was prominent in helping to deliver food parcels to Ukraine, and two weeks ago it supplied the motive power for a tour by the Branch Line Society that raised funds for Martin House Hospice and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
When visiting Great Ormond Street Hospital, in addition to the expertise, I was immediately struck by the love and support for the children and their families, who are going through an unimaginable situation. I'm certain that all of our 1,400 staff will get behind this partnership, so that we can help GOSH Charity raise vital funds to support children and their families at GOSH.
Sarah Whurr, Head of Sustainability and Chair of the Charity Panel at GB Railfreight
We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone at GB Railfreight who has chosen GOSH Charity as the organisation's new charity partner. It is thanks to the generosity of supporters like GB Railfreight that GOSH Charity can continue to fund the hospital's most urgent needs and make a real difference to the lives of seriously ill children from across the UK who are treated at GOSH.
Sarah Bissell, Deputy Director of Relationship Fundraising at Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's CharityCharity
