The Hug in a Bag charity based in Sunderland has welcomed a donation of £2,400 from ourselves and our partners Tolent as we continue to give back to the local community.
The donation enables the team, made up of all volunteers, to provide 60 bags containing gifts and information leaflets to every person diagnosed with breast cancer at the University Hospital of North Durham.
The charity was set up in 2006 with the aim to give one more hug in the form of the gift bags to those diagnosed with breast cancer which include everything from candles, soaps, note pads and pens to specific items for both men and women.
The team of seven volunteers work out of an office in Houghton and the charity branched out to a team Blackpool in 2012 to support those diagnosed at the Royal Victoria Hospital in the city.
More than 55,000 women and 400 men per year are diagnosed with breast cancer across the UK. Through generous donations, the team are able to donate around 400 bags each year.
One recipient of the gift bag said: “My hug in a bag brought a bit of light in a very dark time. The wonderful things inside brought me to tears. I still have my friendship bag on my bedside table which always gives me strength and hope. A wonderful and amazing charity.”
Gateshead-based contractor Tolent is currently on site for Gentoo on a new housing development in the Houghton area of Sunderland, creating 49 affordable homes for rent.
Through this partnership, we are committed to enriching the local community and this latest effort follows a recent £20,000 donation of laptops to a local school and sponsorship of vital school breakfast clubs.
Joanne Gordon, Development Director at Gentoo Group, said: “We’re extremely proud to be able to support The Hug in a Bag charity to continue to deliver its brilliant donations for those diagnosed with breast cancer, through our partnership with Tolent.
“Having a positive impact on our local communities and residents is vital for us when delivering new build schemes and I’m delighted that we can continue to work together to support and enhance the local area.”
Chris Price, Regional Director of Tolent, said: “It’s a pleasure to be supporting the team at Hug in a Bag, especially at a time where those working in the charity sector need our help more than ever.
“The commitment we pledge across every site to enrich the communities we work in is something we take very seriously and this wouldn’t have been possible without the support and collaboration with Gentoo.”
Our Brockwell Green development is being delivered in partnership with Homes England and will see two and three-bedroom homes as well as two-bedroom bungalows built on the site. The scheme pays homage to the areas local mining heritage and is named after a pit line in at the former Houghton Colliery.
