Together for Short Lives announces new partnership with Morrisons that will help families supported by Jessie May

Together for Short Lives and Morrisons have announced a new partnership that will provide vital support for families cared for by Jessie May. 

Out of more than 100 charities to apply, Together for Short Lives – the only charity supporting the UK’s 54 children’s hospices, including Jessie May – won a Morrisons colleague vote to decide which charity would benefit from a three-year partnership aiming to raise around £10 million.

Children’s hospices like Jessie May provide lifeline support to families facing up to the heartbreak that their child will die young. Money raised in Morrisons stores and sites will support children’s hospices with the vital funding they need to be there for the 99,000 families caring for a seriously ill child.

Together for Short Lives will become Morrisons’ new charity partner from February, when the supermarket giant’s current partnership with Young Lives vs Cancer comes to a close.

David Potts, CEO at Morrisons said, “It’s been a privilege to support Young Lives vs Cancer for the last five years and I’d like to thank our colleagues, customers and suppliers for their efforts in raising over £17m – in particular our Community Champions who’ve worked so tirelessly.  We’re looking forward to teaming up with Together for Short Lives and providing vital support for children’s hospices across our local communities.”

Every single Morrisons store and site will be connected with their local children’s hospice, like Jessie May, raising much-needed funds to help them provide families facing the unimaginable with vital care and the chance to make cherished memories together. 

“We are so pleased that Morrisons colleagues voted with their hearts when choosing their new partner charity. Together for Short Lives provide a vital source of funding for all 54 children’s hospice services, including Jessie May. Without their ongoing support we wouldn’t be able to continue to provide our specialist palliative care to as many terminally ill and life limited children, and their families, in the South West.” echoes Jessie May CEO, Chris Roys.

Jessie May provides lifeline support to families facing up to the heartbreak of their child dying young, right in the heart of the South West.

Ariana, Noah, Hayley and Becky have formed a close friendship over the 4 years that they have been supported by the specialist Jessie May nurses. Both Ariana and Noah suffer from renal conditions, which sees them both undergo dialysis treatment up to 5 times a week. Ariana and Noah have since become the best of friends, as have Mum’s Hayley and Becky

Andy Fletcher, Chief Executive at Together for Short Lives highlights the difference this partnership will make for families like Noah and Ariana’s supported by a children’s hospice:

We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen as Morrisons’ next charity partner. Their support is going to help us make a lifetime of difference in communities up and down the UK. Families of seriously ill children are pushed to their limits every day. This incredible partnership will help to ensure that lifeline children’s hospices who are there for these families, aren’t pushed to theirs. The partnership will also kick-start an exciting new project to help us reach every family who needs our help in local communities.

Every single Morrisons store and site will be connected with their local children’s hospice, raising much-needed funds to help them provide families facing the unimaginable with vital care and the chance to make cherished memories together. A partnership of this scale is just transformational – Together for Short Lives cannot save a child’s life, but with a little help from Morrisons colleagues and customers we can make sure that no family has to suffer through their child’s short life alone, and instead can treasure every moment they have together.