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NHS rainbow t-shirts help Sussex charity

A consortium of Sussex businesses have voluntarily pooled their skills to sell unique ‘NHS rainbow’ t-shirts in a bid to replenish vital funds for children’s hospitals.

By BHAFC • 21 April 2020

COVID-19 has meant that Rockinghorse Children’s Charity has lost £50,000 in fundraising opportunities, whilst demands on its hospitals’ equipment and care have never been higher. Families are now able to preserve their children’s rainbow drawings, printed on t-shirts, to raise vital funds.

In just ten days, an e-commerce website and full digital marketing campaign has come to life alongside a t-shirt print and delivery service. It’s all in aid of helping the official charity arm of Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital as it has found itself spending its emergency funding during these exceptional circumstances.

Led by Freedom Works, a community workspace group, professionals have donated time, expertise, ad spend and equipment to the project that supports NHS services. 

Jon Trigg of Freedom Works said, “When we heard about the dire situation Rockinghorse are in, we felt compelled to help.  We are a group of people that may not be equipped to help on the front line, but we sure know how to get people on a website!”.

Children and adult sized t-shirts printed with a special “I’m a Rockinghorse Hero” message and rainbows of hope can now be ordered at shop.rockinghorse.org.uk, with 100% profit going directly to Rockinghorse Children’s Charity. 

The first batch of t-shirt orders should be with customers in time for next Thursday’s NHS Clap, another perfect way to support the country’s health workers during this difficult time.

The project has the full backing of Ryan Heal, CEO of Rockinghorse Children’s Charity which also helps fund special care baby units in Brighton and Haywards Heath. 

“We’ve been inspired by the energy and passion shown by this wonderful group of business leaders, led by Jon Trigg of Freedom Works, who have come together for the greater good. It just shows that the gift of human kindness is alive and kicking in Sussex as these business heroes have decided to help Rockinghorse at such a critical time for the charity, a time we’ve never witnessed before.

"We are truly grateful and urge as many people as possible to get their hands on a t-shirt, not just for the support of the charity and the NHS, but as a keepsake from a time in our lives that we will all look back upon and say ‘we did our bit!’,” said Heal.

As the web shop launches, the businesses involved are spreading the word and would welcome the support of Albion fans. 

Please use the campaign hashtag #NHSRainbowTee.