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Hi Sunshine News readers,
It’s a sad week for us all at Sunshine HQ as we wave a fond farewell to our Office and Events Manager Rebecca. Rebecca has been The Chronicle Sunshine Fund for almost 8 years and is our longest serving team member, we thought it was only right that she had a fitting tribute on this weeks’ column so here are some of her best memories.
We asked her what her favourite event was in her time with the charity and whilst she’s organised and attended a fair few, her favourite was undoubtedly our annual ball. “I would say my favourite event was the first ball I fully organised. We made a decision to make a new fundraising ask which we weren't expecting many people to stand up and donate to. Safe to say around 40 people purchased iPads for the kids that evening and I cried!”. Ever since this event, Rebecca has led on our annual ball and continued to introduce new and exiting themes and ideas year on year. Rebecca not only leads on our events but also keeps us all in check in the office and her role has developed significantly since starting with us, she can quite literally turn her hand to anything so she’s going to be a huge miss.
A slightly tough question for her to answer was to think of her fondest memory. We’ve had countless bouts of laughter in our office over the years with some pretty incredible events and campaigns but Rebecca recalled her time at the Junior and Mini GNR back in 2019. She said, “My fondest memory has to be taking part in the Wheelchair race with William at the Junior and Mini Great North Run and him getting out of his wheelchair to walk across the finish line, it was an amazing day and a huge achievement for him.”. Rebecca has known William and his family since she started working with the charity and so we hope this fond memory stays with her for a lifetime.
Whilst we know Rebecca will miss her fabulously funny, wonderful and caring team, we
know that it’s the families and the children we support that she’ll miss most as a huge part of her role has been managing our applications process. She has had the pleasure of watching many of our children grow and she has been integral to managing our applications, ordering equipment and also had the amazing job of calling parents on many an occasion to tell them that their equipment had been funded. “I will of course miss the team; I've built some really good friendships over the years but most of all I'll miss the families. It has been incredible working with them and seeing the children grow up and how much they gain from having access to the equipment we've bought them.”
We’re sure many of our parents have enjoyed working with Rebecca, one of our parents, Bev said “I was really nervous and apprehensive when Freya had her first piece of equipment funded, we'd agreed to meet a rep from the company who funded the visualiser and do a piece for the paper. Rebecca knocked at the door with a big beaming smile and I was instantly at ease, she was lovely with us both and over the years we've had lots of contact with her. She is always so welcoming, always with a smile on her face, so engaging with the kids and we always end up laughing! I wish her every happiness in her future and we'll miss that smile.”
There are so many more fantastic memories that we could share but for now, all that’s left to do is for us to wave goodbye and good luck, with a tear in our eye, to a team sunshine legend.
Team Sunshine x