Christmas trees auction to raise money for children’s hospice

Christmas trees are up for auction at the Quayside shopping centre to help raise money for a Greater Manchester children’s hospice.

The Francis House Festival of Trees is taking place at the shopping centre in Salford Quays until December 14.

Shoppers can pledge sums of money to win the chance of owning all the gifts on a specific tree.

The funds raised will go towards providing respite and end-of-life care for children and young people with life-limiting illnesses, and provide support and short-term care for the families.

Currently, 35 sponsored trees are on display in the shop at Quayside Media City (formerly known as the Lowry Shopping Centre) with bids welcome until December 8, when the highest bidder will win the tree and all the decorations and gifts that come with it.

Each tree is unique, with many different supporters, including the Tesco tree which comes with £180 of vouchers and a festive food and drink hamper.

The Lowry Theatre has also sponsored one tree including tickets for 12 of its shows.

A tree sponsored by Manchester United Foundation comes with a team-signed shirt and framed print.

The shop also has a memory tree at the entrance, where people have been writing notes and hanging them on the tree as a tribute to loved ones they have lost.

Julie Williams, the senior fundraiser at Francis House in Didsbury, said: “We are there for 600 families currently, throughout the greater Manchester area who have a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition, so we offer respite care and palliative end of life care.”

The shop is one of the many fundraising events the charity has held, with a run at Heaton Park taking place on December 1 and a memory lights service in East Didsbury Methodist Church being two of the many upcoming events.

The event has been going for 18 years and raised about £25,000 for the charity.

The Quayside Shopping Centre supports the charity by giving the unit for free and has offered support for Francis House Children’s Hospice all year round. Collection pots are provided and the centre’s ping pong parlour is also supporting the appeal.

The pop-up shop also sells Christmas stock.

Julie said: “We’ve got everything that people need for Christmas, we’ve got elf on the shelf, baubles, Christmas trees, little stocking fillers, and we’ve got lucky dip as well.”

The shop is open every day but Monday. Bids can be placed at the shop or online here.

Donations can also be made here.