The Treetops Hospice Ripple Appeal Challenge has been shortlisted as a finalist in the 'Communications Campaign' in the Third Sector Excellence Awards.  

"We're really thrilled to have been shortlisted as finalists.  Particularly when the competition was so stiff with large national charities.  The Treetops hospice Challenge has been such a success due to the generosity of so many groups, clubs, organizations, individuals, companies, churches and schools in Nottingham and Derbyshire coming on board with our fundraising," says Lily Grant, fundraising assistant.

"We're now on our The Final challenge as we're going to start building later on this year.  I urge people to consider coming on board with our fundraising and help us now that we are so close.'

The Treetops Hospice Ripple Appeal Challenge was launched on February 29th 2008.  We held a Joke-athon at the hospice.  We wanted to motivate and inspire the public to come on board with our fundraising and we wanted to show that it could be fun and didn't have to be hard work if you think outside the box.  50 people were invited to the hospice to tell a joke and raise £20 sponsorship or donate £20.  The hospice patients were the audience.  Jokers were varied….local school children, architect, councilor, doctor, hospice volunteers, TV presenter…….

In just over half an hour we raised £1600.  The launch of the Challenge achieved its goal of gaining lots of press and motivating the public to come on board with the Challenge," added Lily.