Member Article

Palliative care transformed thanks to stairlift company’s contribution

Leading manufacturer Acorn Stairlifts has raised a life-changing £20,000 for Marie Curie to support people living with terminal illness.

As part of a continued partnership between the Steeton-based stairlift manufacturer and the charity, Acorn pledged to donate £10 for every stairlift installed during a six-week period between April and June 2019.

The £20,000 raised will help support people living with a terminal illness and their families in the Bradford district and across the UK who need access to specialist care.

The cheque presentation at the Marie Curie Hospice in Maudsley Street, Bradford, marked a double celebration as Acorn announced that in the last three years, it has donated the supply and installation of 151 stairlifts into the homes of Marie Curie patients to give them the freedom to be cared for at home.

Caren Larkman-Ayre, national sales manager at Acorn Stairlifts, said: “We’re very proud to be supporting Marie Curie, a charity that does amazing work caring for people during exceptionally difficult times.

“Since our partnership began just less than three years ago, we have installed over 150 stairlifts for people living with a terminal illness, enabling them to be cared for at home and helping them to make the most of the time they have with their loved ones.

“With such vital, life enhancing work already undertaken by this incredible charity, we are delighted to support their essential work even further through the free installation of our stairlifts. We know from our customers how life-changing a stairlift can be and are proud to be helping even more people through our partnership with Marie Curie.”

Yorkshire-based Acorn Stairlifts, which has been manufacturing and installing stairlifts for more than 20 years and employs over 800 people in the UK, has been named a British manufacturing champion after its innovative and easy to use stairlifts received national industry recognition and its customer care achieved Trustmark accreditation.

Acorn Stairlifts’ partnership with Marie Curie was announced with the support of the charity’s patron Christine Hamilton-Stewart MBE, who helped raise the £3.5million funds to build the Marie Curie Bradford Hospice in 2001. Christine helped unveil the hospice’s £1.5 million refurbishment last month which has transformed its Day Therapy Unit into a state-of-the-art outpatient facility that will improve the care received by terminally ill people and their loved ones.

Christine said: “Corporate support from local businesses is so important to any charity but to see this incredibly generous partnership between Acorn Stairlifts and Marie Curie have an impact on our patients nationally and locally is absolutely fantastic.

“For families where quality of life is of the essence, fast access to a free stairlift means precious time can be spent at home. And for those needing to access the many services offered here in Bradford and throughout the UK, this £20k raised will help to extend our care to many families in need of our support.”

She added: “We are delighted that Acorn has pledged such a significant amount and look forward to the partnership continuing to blossom into the future.”

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