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The Festival Of Trees Announces Best Year Yet

In the six years that Francis House Children’s Hospice has been holding its annual ‘Festival of Trees’ at the Lowry Outlet, Salford Quays, the stunning display of over 40 sponsored Christmas trees has raised tens of thousands for the North West children’s hospice. And this year is no exception with Francis House announcing 2012 has been their best year ever, with £25,000 raised through members of the public bidding on Christmas trees, which local and national companies signed up to decorate.

The pop-up shop, provided free of charge every year by the Lowry Outlet, was bustling with shoppers, and the bidding was festively fierce this year. Decorated trees included signed baubles from the players of Manchester United which raised £900, the Manchester City tree generated £700, trees from the cast of Coronation Street and Emmerdale raised £285 between them. A L’Oreal tree of perfumed goods raised £5,000 and from The Midland hotel Manchester decorations of range of treats and vouchers secured £1,200. Comedian Jason Manford successfully bid on a silver Tinkerbell Tree for his twin girls for £400.

Fred the Red and Francis Mouse, the official mascots of Manchester United Football Club and Francis House, opened the Festival of Trees on The 4th November. The festive showcase was open until the 9th December.

David Woodrow, from Francis House, commented, “We are delighted to have topped our total from last year of £19,000, and raised the most ever! We’d like to thank the many hundreds of individuals and companies for their fantastic support and the Lowry Outlet for once again generously providing a unit for us. The money raised will help towards providing much needed funds for the hospice’s annual running costs set to increase to £4.6 million in 2013 with the opening of a seven bedroom extension.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lauren, Mason Williams .