Sponsored swimmers surpass fundraising milestone for mental health service in memory of father

Family and friends help raise funds for Holland House in Preston with sponsored swim

On the 16^th of September 2021, Lisa Quigley and Donna Nolan completed a sponsored swim tackling over 100 lengths of their local swimming pool to raise money and awareness for schizophrenia in memory of Lisa’s father.

Lisa’s father sadly passed away in December 2020 from liver cancer. Lisa decided to raise funds in his memory for Holland House, a Northern Healthcare supported living service for people living with a mental health diagnosis, where he lived and was supported by the team.

Founded in 2013, Northern Healthcare Limited offers supported living services for people living with mental health conditions, autism and learning disabilities.

Lisa and Donna set out to raise £500, thanks to the generosity of family, friends and the public they exceeded their target raising £1630. Lisa has asked that the contributions go towards a celebration of life in memory of her father for the team and fellow residents who supported her. Lisa wrote on her JustGiving page: “The money will be donated to Holland House mental health unit who helped me get through one of the most difficult times in my life.”

Lisa visited Holland House to present a cheque to the service and visit the team in October, commenting: “I’d just like to say thank you to all the staff and residents for everything they have done for my dad, this money raised is to give a little something back.”

Mark Brooks, Service Manager and Noel Tracey, one of the Founders of Northern Healthcare, were in attendance to meet Lisa and thank her. Mark commented:  “The care and support the Northern Healthcare team provides is hugely valuable for people and families who are affected by a mental health diagnosis and we can’t thank Lisa and Donna enough for thinking of our team and residents and advocating for mental health. They have truly helped to lift our spirits at what has been an emotional time for all. We would like to thank everyone who has donated. The money raised will go towards a bench in tribute to Lisa’s dad and a celebration of life in his memory. Thank you.”

One project that their generous fundraising donation has supported is a memorial bench for Lisa’s father, as well as some outside picnic tables and benches. Our residents have recently finished sanding down the tables and plan to re-stain them!

For more information on Lisa’s fundraising journey visit her JustGiving page.