CHARITY PRIZE: From left, Josh Allan, community fundraiser for Children’s Hospice South West, Andy Littlejohns, Princesshay’s operations manager, Raymond Lang, assistant sales manager at Snows Toyota Exeter, Zoe Miles, trainee fundraiser for the hospice, and Phil Maddison, a group director at motor retailer Snows, which employs nearly 800 people across 35 dealerships in the South.

Children's hospice to benefit from car prize raffle

A children’s hospice in the South West is to be given a charity Christmas boost after an automotive retailer and a shopping centre joined forces.

Snows Toyota Exeter is raffling a new Toyota C-HR, worth nearly £24,000, with £5,000 already raised in ticket sales before the Christmas prize draw on December 23.

The dealership, part of Snows Motor Group in the South, teamed up with Princesshay Shopping Centre in Exeter.

Money raised by the raffle will be donated to Children’s Hospice South West, which provides palliative care and respite for youngsters with life-limiting conditions and their families.

There are three hospices run by the charity - in North Devon, North Somerset and mid-Cornwall.

To generate further funds, Snows Toyota Exeter will also be donating £25 for each showroom test drive of the Toyota C-HR if the booking has come via the shopping centre placement.

Raymond Lang, assistant sales manager at Snows Toyota Exeter, said: “We’ve already raised £5,000 in ticket sales, thanks to the car’s presence at Princesshay Shopping Centre, and we anticipate funds far exceeding the price of the Toyota C-HR in the run-up to Christmas.

“Whilst there is a commercial element to what we are doing, in showcasing a fantastic car to the public, ultimately we want to help to raise vital funds for Children’s Hospice South West which offers care and support for local families. .”

Each raffle ticket is £2 and the Toyota C-HR is exhibited every Thursday to Saturday, from 11am to 4pm. The car will be then be displayed seven days a week in December until December 23.

The charity is also looking for volunteers to sell the raffle tickets over the festive period.

Andy Littlejohns, Princesshay’s operations manager, will be drawing the winning raffle ticket.

He said: “There is already a lot of keen interest from shoppers in this superb prize and we’re more than happy to join forces with Snows Toyota Exeter to support Children’s Hospice South West in this way.”

Laura Board, Community Fundraiser for Children’s Hospice South West, said: “We are so grateful to Snows Toyota Exeter and Princesshay Shopping Centre for their generosity this year.

“The funds raised by the raffle will support so many precious young lives throughout the region.

“We couldn’t continue to be there for so many children and families without the support of companies like this, and can’t thank them enough for all that they are doing.

“We would also like to wish everyone who takes part in the raffle the very best of luck!”

Children’s Hospice South West is also looking for volunteers to help sell the raffle tickets on Fridays and Saturdays at the centre. Please contact Laura at laura.board@chsw.co.uk

Children’s Hospice South West was established 26 years ago by Eddie Farwell and his late wife Jill, following their own experiences with two life-limited children who used Helen House in Oxford, the world’s first children’s hospice.

Pictured, from left: Josh Allan, community fundraiser for Children’s Hospice South West, Andy Littlejohns, Princesshay’s operations manager, Raymond Lang, assistant sales manager at Snows Toyota Exeter, Zoe Miles, trainee fundraiser for the hospice, and Phil Maddison, a group director at motor retailer Snows, which employs nearly 800 people across 35 dealerships in the South.