Perennial kicked off its 180th anniversary in style this week with the annual Party for Perennial at La Goccia in Covent Garden on Tuesday 29 January. Over 160 people from across the industry came together for an evening of networking and fundraising in support of the horticulture industry’s only social and welfare support charity. The party also formally launched Perennial’s annual fundraising campaign, with a range of new challenge events including the Marathon Month, a virtual event that will take place in June.
To mark its 180th year, Perennial wants to reach more people with its tailored one-to-one support services than ever before. The Party for Perennial, now in its fifth year, demonstrates the incredible cross sector support for the charity, with many businesses and individuals already signed up to take part in fundraising events and partnership activities this year. Over £6,000 was raised on the night from the raffle, ticket sales and sponsorship, and people in the room pledged support across major flower shows, horticulture trade events and numerous other individual and corporate fundraising activities. Thanks go to the event’s headline sponsors The HTA and Gavin Jones.
Peter Newman, Perennial’s Chief Executive said: “We talk regularly to our supporters and the people who know about Perennial but our challenge this year is to reach the people who are struggling but don’t know that Perennial is here and ready to help. Our Party for Perennial brings people together from across the wider industry giving us the opportunity to thank them for their support, as well as making new connections and talking to more people about what we do. We have 180 years’ experience of helping people in horticulture and we are in a strong position to continue to grow and increase the help we offer.”
Anita Bates, Perennial’s Director of Marketing and Fundraising comments: “We know that by forging deep-rooted partnerships with horticulture businesses we can continue to help the people who need us most. These partnerships help us spread the word about how we help and allow us to raise funds to continue our work. We have a busy 2019 lined up with fundraising challenge events, gardens at flower shows, our growing Perennial Fellowship and other new initiatives for businesses to get involved in our work. And our message is simple, the more support we receive, the more people we can help.”
Get involved with fundraising during 2019
Perennial is challenging people to take part in its Marathon Month during June, where people can run or walk a marathon in their own time with the target of raising £180 in sponsorship. The marathon can be done either in one go or gradually over the course of the month. Participants track their distance via an exercise app and there is a leader board for the more competitive.
Following the success of Perennial’s first overseas challenge event last year, there are three exciting trips of a lifetime available this year. Choose from trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or cycling from Ho Chi Minh to Angkor Wat, while raising funds through sponsorship. Closer to home, there are two new events to take part in. Those with a head for heights can abseil down the ArcelorMittal Orbit Tower in the Olympic Park in April and there are also spaces available for fundraisers to enter the Great North Run, the UK’s biggest half marathon.
Perennial115 - 117 Kingston Road
Leatherhead
Surrey
KT22 7SU
T: 0800 093 8510
info@perennial.org.uk
perennial.org.uk