Eat lunch with friends and raise over £80,000 for bereaved children at the same time

Sophie Gardiner, 14, dressed as Winston Bear, and Natasha Goldman, 14, launch the first Winstons Wish Link Lunch with Hurstpierpoint teachers and parents.

This is the first of potentially thousands of lunches that will take place with the aim to raise over £80,000 for the charity.

This fantastic fundraising initiative works in the following way - everyone who attends a lunch makes a small donation of £10 to the charity and then each person goes on to host their own lunch.

With determination, if everyone who attends a Link Lunch goes on to host a further one, the fundraising target can be achieved and thousands of people will be made aware of Winston’s Wish and the vital services that they offer to bereaved children and their families in Sussex.

Philippa Maple, history teacher and housemistress at Hurstpierpoint College explained: “The charity came in to speak to our house about its work and the Link Lunch initiative, and after being inspired to help, we encouraged parents to take part with us.

“A group got together and we were more than happy to help raise money for this amazing charity. Two of the girls even dressed up as Winston Bear!”

Community and events fundraiser Louise Brown speaks about why something as simple as the Link Lunch is so important for Winston’s Wish: “Holding a Link Lunch is a fun and simple way to get together with family, friends and work colleagues to raise vital funds to support locally bereaved children.

“It is an easy fundraising campaign with the potential to generate a huge amount of money and we are hoping that these lunches will raise enough money to enable us to support a further 22 children and their families through our full grief support programme.”

“Winston’s Wish is delighted to have such wonderful support from Hurstpierpoint College, who have encouraged their pupils to join in the fun by hosting a lunch of their own in their boarding houses,” she continues.

If you would like to attend a Link Lunch or feel that you have the passion and enthusiasm to start one of your own then please contact Louise on 01403 211030 or e-mail [email protected]