Staff at north Manchester home furnishing retailer Housing Units called in some super-special help in their 2007 charity fundraising drive – Father Christmas.
Santa helped put the icing on the Christmas cake as staff totted up their final fundraising total for their chosen 2007 charity beneficiary, Dr Kershaw’s Hospice in Oldham.

Following a series of events and collections the Housing Units team will be handing over £8,739 to the charity.
Nick Fox, director of Housing Units, said: “It is very easy for business to lose sight of local charities and their needs, so we made a particular effort to identify and provide support locally with our 2007 effort.
“Much of the fundraising ideas came from the staff, and just about everybody participated in some way thanks for a series of events that appealed to just about our entire team.
“A golf day, a darts tournament, quiz night and events such as guess the weight of a cake, sales of raffles tickets and badges all contributed – even Father Christmas got in on the act by collecting £2-a-visit contributions while he was in residence at our grotto.”
Dr Kershaw’s Hospice was opened in 1989 following the conversion and development of a 1930’s Cottage Hospital originally built with a legacy from Dr John Kershaw, a local General Practitioner and Medical Officer of Health.
The Hospice has recently undergone a major building programme of expansion and refurbishment that offers high quality patient accommodation that fully complies with all current legislation.
Dr Kershaw’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for adults with non-curable life-threatening illnesses in a peaceful and homely environment with accommodation for 12 inpatients and 15 day care places.
In addition it provides support for patient’s relatives and carers. The medical and nursing staff are experienced in palliative medicine and are supported by a multi-disciplinary team of specialist nurses, allied health professionals, social workers, spiritual counsellors and bereavement support workers who assist in providing a seamless service for patients across hospital, community and hospice boundaries.
“To raise £8,739 from the efforts of a relatively small workforce is a magnificent effort. The money is also going to a magnificent and local charity,” said Nick Fox.