North Yorkshire furniture specialist Hill Cross Furniture has presented £1,500 to Overgate Hospice after taking on a 1,042-mile cycling challenge inspired by the team’s work on the hospice’s new Inpatient Unit.
Colleagues from the family-owned furniture business completed the virtual distance from Land’s End to John O’Groats on static bikes as part of Overgate Hospice’s Big Bikeathon corporate challenge.
The fundraising followed Hill Cross Furniture’s involvement in Overgate Hospice’s landmark Big Build redevelopment in Elland, West Yorkshire.
Working alongside healthcare interior designer Elaine Lewis, Hill Cross supplied furniture for the hospice’s new 16-bedroom Inpatient Unit, including patient bedrooms and the Family Lounge, as well as bespoke modular seating designed specifically for the north and south wings.
The new unit has been designed to provide a comfortable, welcoming environment for patients and their families while meeting the practical demands of a busy hospice setting.
Each bedroom includes an en-suite bathroom, private terrace overlooking the gardens and a sofa bed so loved ones can stay overnight.
For the Hill Cross team, seeing the work of the hospice first-hand provided the motivation to do something more.
Matt Waters, Group Finance Director at Hill Cross Furniture, said:
“Working on Overgate’s new Inpatient Unit gave us a real appreciation of the care and thought that goes into creating the best possible environment for patients and their families."
“Our team wanted to do something to support the hospice beyond the furniture project, so taking on the Big Bikeathon felt like a brilliant way to get everyone involved."
“Completing 1,042 miles certainly took some determination, but knowing what we were raising the money for kept us going. We’re delighted to be able to present Overgate with £1,500 and would like to thank everyone who sponsored us.”
Rebecca Ryan, Head of Fundraising at Overgate Hospice said:
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone at Hill Cross Furniture for taking on the Big Bikeathon and raising £1,500 for Overgate Hospice. It’s been wonderful to see their support extend beyond their work on our Big Build, with the team really getting behind the challenge."
“Every pound raised helps us continue to provide vital care and support for patients and their families across Calderdale.”
Hill Cross Furniture has developed growing experience within hospice environments, working with Elaine Lewis on projects including Martlets Hospice, St David’s Hospice and Severn Hospice, with further schemes currently underway at North London Hospice and Hospice in the Weald.
Its approach involves more than supplying furniture. For hospice projects, the company has also developed a Sample Showcase process, bringing furniture together for patients, families and multidisciplinary hospice teams to try before final specifications are agreed.
Feedback from nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, housekeeping teams and others helps inform decisions around comfort, ergonomics, durability and practicality.
The relationship with Overgate Hospice is also continuing. Hill Cross Furniture is supporting Phase Two of the Big Build redevelopment, which will include a new Activity Room, Social Hub and Therapy Rooms.
Hill Cross Furniture is a family-owned contract furniture specialist based in North Yorkshire. For more than 25 years, the company has supplied furniture for hospitality, leisure, healthcare and commercial interiors across the UK and internationally.
The company provides loose, fixed and bespoke furniture alongside design, sourcing, project management, delivery and installation services.
Overgate Hospice provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care for people in Calderdale and their families.
Photo Credit:
Overgate Hospice interior photography: Alisdair McIntosh
