Liverpool based dance organisation Merseyside Dance Initiative will have just five days from Mon 5 – Fri 9 December to raise £2000 in donations from members of the public in the next round of The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2011.
The donation challenge follows on from MDI’s earlier task of asking businesses to pledge sums of money, which will be doubled and added to the donations’ total, giving MDI some financial resources to fund their fantastic Dance and Health programme across the city in Alder Hey and in Dementia care homes.
The organisation’s Dance and Health programme 'Move on Up' was selected for the scheme by Big Give bosses who were impressed with their outreach work, which also won them a MOBO for community engagement in 2010. There is a growing body of evidence showing that taking part in dance activity can have a positive impact on people's physical and mental health and wellbeing. The organisation has devised a programme of work aimed at benefiting a diverse range of individuals, groups and communities across the region with a particular focus projects linked with dementia (Adults in specialist care homes or accessing day care services) and children (Alder Hey Hospital).
In order to continue this great work into 2012 MDI is looking for donations of any amount of money from 50p - £500 from businesses, trusts, foundations, dance lovers, philanthropists and members of the public. Anyone donating over £100 will receive recognition both online and in print used to publicise the dance and heath scheme.
Donors have the opportunity to have their cash doubled by The Big Give if they donate as close to 10am as possible during the week of 5th – 9th December, which is when the Big Give release the additional Sponsorship Funds. This fund will be used to double donations until it’s all gone, after that donations will still be accepted but cannot be doubled.
Rachel Rogers, Project Development Manager at MDI said; "The Big Give Christmas Challenge has been quite successful for us thus far in terms of pledges so we’re excited for this next part of the task. MDI's dance and health programme is so important for the organisation and for people who do not usually have access to this type of dance activity – which can make a huge difference to their quality of life. We really want to continue with all of our valuable work, particularly projects linked with dementia and the children in Alder Hey Hospital and this money will go a long way towards funding these worthwhile projects.
"The Big Give Christmas Challenge gives us a real opportunity to raise money to fund this work by increasing the value of pledges by up to four times as much! It would be fantastic to have the backing of local businesses and communities and for them to know that their pledges will, through our projects make a real difference to people in Merseyside in 2012, please donate!"
To donate, you simply need to fill out the form between Mon 5 – Fri 9 December (remember as soon after 10am as possible) at this website.
