Meeting Matthew’s a Friend in Me: Our 2024 Charity Award winners!

It was a great opportunity to meet up with the incredible team from Matthew’s a Friend in Me after we announced that they had come in first place in our 2024 Charity Award. The charity, dedicated to supporting families of children facing a brain tumour or cancer, is an example of kindness and community spirit. Louise Roberts, Secretary at Matthew’s A Friend in Me expressed her gratitude:

“Firstly, the committee members at Matthew’s A Friend in Me were truly honoured to be nominated for the Sheffield Mutual Charity Award and to now find out that we have won, we are absolutely delighted with the outcome.

We would like to express our thanks and gratitude to all the people who took time to vote for us, thanks to these caring individuals we can continue to make a tremendous difference in the lives of young people and their families who are facing childhood cancer.

All the charity money including this prize will be spent supporting patients and their families currently receiving treatment at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.”

The charity’s mission is to ease the burdens faced by families dealing with childhood cancer. With a cap of £500 per family (up to three times), they provide essential financial aid for parking fees, clothes and other cost-of-living expenses that can accumulate during long hospital stays. For families spending £15 per day on hospital parking alone, this support is invaluable.

In 2023, Matthew’s a Friend in Me processed an impressive £50,000 in financial assistance to families, with applications often coming in at a rate of four or five per week. Funds are distributed in collaboration with Sheffield Children’s Hospital, ensuring they reach those in genuine need – particularly on Ward 6, which is dedicated to young cancer patients.

For Christmas, the charity goes the extra mile to brighten the lives of children and families on Ward 6. Last year, they provided thoughtful gifts like food vouchers, helping ease the strain and bring a smile to faces during the holiday season for a number of families.

Matthew’s a Friend in Me relies on the generosity of the public to fund its vital work. They regularly participate in and organise fundraising activities including an annual Christmas raffle, a 40-mile walk through the night which they have done for many years and a charity ball featuring an auction, live band and meal bringing their community together.

The £5,000 donation will be going towards offering more families the £500 financial aid, during one of the most difficult times of their lives. They let families know they are not alone and have a community around them.

To learn more about Matthew’s a Friend in Me and how you can help you can visit their website or follow their Facebook page.