Caring staff at a firm in Ely who have been planning their Annual Christmas Ball for a a year look set to donate a present for every patient in hospital over the Christmas period at both Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie.
James Stevens and his staff at Cambridge Commodities picked Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) - the official charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie - as their official charity partner seven years ago. Since then they have been busy fundraising for the two hospitals throughout the year.
The firm’s Annual Christmas Ball focuses on giving back at Christmas – with proceeds from this month’s event raising money to buy a Christmas present for every patient who will be in hospital over the festive season. James and his team are also buying boxes of chocolates for staff to share on the day too.
“One of the most special times in the year is Christmas,” James said. “And every year, at our annual festive ball, we raise money to pay for every patient who wakes up on Christmas Day to receive a gift. These gifts are wrapped by Team Cambridge Commodities and delivered to the hospital. Waking up at Christmas is made special knowing we might have brought a smile to patients’ faces.”
ACT’s Chief Executive, Shelly Thake, said: “Christmas can be a really special time of year for families, friends and loved ones to spend quality time together. But we are very aware that isn’t always the case for a lot of people.”
“For patients who sadly find themselves in hospital over Christmas it can be a very difficult time not just because they are unwell but also because they are away from home and their loved ones. The amazing hospital staff do everything they can to care for them, but most people just want to be at home at Christmas. That is why we are incredibly grateful to Cambridge Commodities and all their staff for their fundraising efforts to bring Christmas to the hospital.”
“Each year they raise enough money to buy and wrap a present for every single patient staying in Addenbrooke’s over Christmas. All their planning, hard work and kindness really does put a smile on the faces of both patients and staff.”
Ben’s Yard, in Ely, also gets involved by donating their marquee and refreshments as a space for Christmas wrapping, providing their own team of staff to help wrap presents too.
James said one of the reasons his staff picked ACT as their charity partner was because of the impact Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie have had on so many of their own lives.
Since they started wrapping and buying presents for the hospitals three years ago, staff have already experienced the direct impact of their kindness, including Emily, whose daughter Ayda was born in the Rosie just after Christmas.
Emily, the firm’s EU Account Manager, had helped wrap Christmas presents to be distributed to patients on Christmas Day and had been booked to have a C-Section on New Years’ Eve. However, she went into labour early and was admitted to the Rosie on Christmas Eve, which meant she was one of the patients to receive one of the presents on Christmas Day.
“I was in hospital on Christmas Day waiting to give birth, so I received one of the presents that I had helped wrap; some hand cream and body lotion, which was a really thoughtful present.”
“Something like that just makes you feel supported and reassured that people are thinking of you and trying to make you feel better about being in hospital over Christmas, when you don’t want to be.”
Another member of staff to experience the direct impact of their fundraising efforts is Natalie Scott Paul, the firm’s Head of Payroll, who organises the Annual Christmas Ball every year with finance manager Carly Purell.
“One of the things we wanted to do was pay the salary of a play therapist. That year my daughter was admitted to Addenbrooke’s, and the play therapist came to see her while she was waiting to be seen. I texted everyone at work and said, ‘we did that!’”
Natalie and Carly said planning for the event takes place all year round but say the results are worth it.
“Every detail is crafted with care to make sure the night is both impactful and enjoyable - from planning the beautiful décor, arranging the entertainment and collaborating with generous sponsors. Knowing that our efforts will contribute to meaningful change and support those in need makes the whole process even more rewarding.”
However, it isn’t just charitable partners who can make a difference at Christmas – members of the public can too.
Anyone wanting to bring a little Christmas cheer to patients and staff throughout the year can log onto ACT’s online shop where they can choose to buy a virtual gift or purchase one of ACT’s specially designed Christmas cards, with all profits going towards making the hospitals even better.
Virtual gifts can buy anything from an hour of therapeutic play or a stocking filler toy for a child in hospital this Christmas, refreshments for hardworking staff or even a set of warm clothes for elderly patients.
Talking about spreading the feel-good factor beyond Christmas, ACT’s Chief Executive added: “Whilst Christmas always acts as a bit of a focus for people, their kind thoughts and donations don’t have to stop at Christmas. As a charity we have fundraising and volunteering opportunities available throughout the year – so choosing to take part is a way of spreading the Christmas cheer throughout the year if you like.”
This is a sentiment backed by James, who listed just some of the ways he and his staff have been able to get involved throughout the year.
“In the seven years we’ve been working with ACT we have been given the opportunity to be part of so many incredible events. We’ve Dragon boated, we’ve handed out daffodils to CUH staff, baked cakes, we’ve half marathoned, human fruit machined, dressed up, quizzed, wrapped Christmas presents, put on some spectacular festive black-tie events, laughed, cried and had the most memorable of times. These events haven’t just raised much needed money for ACT but have brought our team, Team CC, closer together and added purpose.”
Donna Lee-Willis, Head of Community Fundraising at ACT, said volunteering or fundraising for a charity like ACT can bring a lot of happiness to individuals too.
“We have so many amazing fundraisers – like 17-year-old Ernie, who raised over £3,000 by doing a Skywalk for ACT to give back to staff at Addenbrooke’s, after being treated for Ewings Sarcoma himself.”
Ernie’s mum, Georgina, said Ernie, who is still receiving treatment, wanted to give back to the staff on C9 ward at Addenbrooke’s who care for him when he is hospital.
“They really do go above and beyond. They stay later than they need to and help patients more than they need to and have become friends. I think he just wanted to give something back. I am extremely proud of him. He’s a one off!”
Donna added: “We have so many amazing fundraisers who raise money for the hospitals throughout the year, either through their own events or by choosing to take part in one of our specially-designed ones - which for 2025 include a charity skydive, the TTP Cambridge Half Marathon in March, the London Marathon in April and the Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival in September.”
“Beyond that though, members of the public can volunteer to help us out at one, or all, of our events throughout the year, acting as an ambassador for what is a really great organisation to be part of.”
“All our volunteers get a lot of pleasure from working with us and for us as an organisation their support is invaluable. We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them.”
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) is the official charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals, and money raised by supporters help make the hospitals even better by funding cutting-edge research, innovations and high-tech equipment, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.
To buy a virtual gift for a patient at Addenbrooke’s or the Rosie, or a specially designed Christmas card, visit ACT’s online shop at: https://www.shop.act4addenbrookes.org.uk
To find out how to get involved with fundraising visit www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/fundraising or email the Community Fundraising team at: fundraising@act4addenbrookes.org.uk
To find out about volunteer opportunities at ACT, visit www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/volunteer Corporates who would like to support ACT as Charity of the Year can also get in touch by emailing: corporatepartnerships@act4addenbrookes.org.uk
