Join In The Chocola-Tea Fun To Help Families With Sick Children

On your marks, get set, get chocola-tea! Big Chocolate Tea is back and The Sick Children’s Trust is asking you to join in the fun this April to raise money for families with seriously ill children.

Big Chocolate Tea is The Sick Children’s Trust’s biggest annual fundraising event for chocolate, tea and baking lovers, running from Friday 21 April to Monday 1 May. Take part by hosting a tea party, cake sale or bake-off and donate the proceeds to The Sick Children’s Trust to support families with seriously ill children in hospital across the UK.

Last year, the campaign raised an outstanding £60,000 which provided 2,000 families with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation for one night, while their child underwent lifesaving treatment in hospital. The charity hopes this year’s campaign will be an even greater success.

The Sick Children’s Trust runs ten ‘Homes from Home’ at specialist hospitals across the country, providing vital emotional and practical support to keep families together, just minutes from their child’s bedside. The charity is calling for the nation to join in with Big Chocolate Tea so it can continue to help thousands of families stay together with their sick child when it matters most.

The Sick Children’s Trust Chief Executive Jane Featherstone says: “If you love chocolate, tea and baking, you must get involved with our biggest fundraising campaign, Big Chocolate Tea. Last year we had lots of fun, with fantastic chocolate creations, wonderful parties and people coming together to raise money for families with seriously ill children in hospital.

“Whether you’re the next Bake Off champion, or are just beginning your baking adventures, we’ve got something for you. You’ll get your very own free Big Chocolate tea pack full of recipes, ideas and some extra special goodies to help you get your event off to a choc-tastic start. Join us in April and help raise money for families who need a ‘Home from Home’ so they can stay near their seriously ill child.”

The campaign has a host of celebrity supporters, including TV and Heart Radio presenter Sian Welby and Jen Pringle, Presenter on Channel 5’s Milkshake, who’ll be joining in the chocola-tea fun.

TV and Heart Radio presenter Sian Welby says: “I never need an excuse for a cup of tea and there’s nothing better than indulging in a big cuppa and a chocolate treat after a busy day. That’s why Big Chocolate Tea is a must-do fundraising event! Choose to support Big Chocolate Tea in whatever way you like – whether that’s at work, school or home with friends and family. Dust off that apron, crack open the eggs and get baking to help The Sick Children’s Trust raise lots of money to keep families with sick children together when it matters most.”

2012 Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite and Food Writer Alex Hollywood amongst others, will also be supporting the campaign and sharing their top chocolate recipes.

Food writer, Alex Hollywood says: “The work that The Sick Children’s Trust does to help families is absolutely brilliant and I am completely in awe of the difference they make to thousands of families. I hope my recipe will inspire lots of people to come together and get chocola-tea to help raise funds for The Sick Children’s Trust.”

Supporters can choose to take part in Big Chocolate Tea at any point during the year and will receive a pack full of goodies to help host their event. If participants raise at least £30 during Big Chocolate Tea, they will be able to support a family with ‘Home from Home’ accommodation for one night.

To find out how you can get involved with Big Chocolate Tea, please email bigchoctea@sickchildrenstrust.org or visit www.sickchildrenstrust.org/bigchoctea/.