A new Christmas collaboration between Carlisle United and Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice will help raise vitals funds for the charity this festive season.
Cumbria’s top football team and the hospice have worked together to produce a bespoke Christmas card, featuring the official club crest and a festive fox in a winter scene.
The card is a new addition to the hospice’s popular Christmas range which includes a greetings cards featuring festive designs and local scenes, 2024 calendars and diaries, gift wrap and money wallets.
The product range is on sale now and can be bought from the hospice’s shops in Carlisle and Penrith, the hospice itself, by phone and mail order and through the online shop on their website – www.edenvalleyhospice.org/online-shop/.
The Carlisle United themed card is a limited-edition product and is also available from the Blues Store on Warwick Road and online – www.bluesstore.co.uk/cards-and-gift-wrap/festive-fox-10pk-christmas-cards
The funds raised from the sale of the ‘Festive CUFC Fox’ card and the rest of the product range will help support the care the hospice provides to local adults and children with life-limiting conditions. It costs £4.8 million a year to run the hospice, with only around 20 per cent coming from the NHS.
Julie Clayton, chief executive of the hospice, said: “The hospice holds such a special place in the hearts of many people within our community and so does Carlisle United, so it seemed like a great idea to collaborate to create a wonderful product which could support both organisations. We would like to thank the club for their continued support of the hospice and look forward to working together again in the future.
“We’re really proud of the products we have to offer this year – they’re always popular so make sure if you want a gift from us to get in quickly.
Stef Mclean, retail manager of the Blues Store, said: “As a club we’re really proud to support the hospice in whatever way we can, so we were delighted when we were asked to collaborate on a Christmas card this year.
“The cards look great and will be a great gift for United fans this year while also supporting a great cause.”
The 2024 calendar, and some of the cards and diaries, feature stunning images of Cumbria donated by local people as part of the hospice’s ‘Our Cumbria’ photography competition which was held earlier this year.
Hundreds of photos were submitted to the competition with the winning images selected by a judging panel from the hospice.