Multiflight, official private aviation partners of The Yorkshire County Cricket Club helped make more Christmas wishes come true for the children and families of Martin House Children’s Hospice in Boston Spa.
For the ninth successive year Multiflight provided a Dauphin helicopter from its fleet of VIP charter helicopters to fly Santa in with presents. Joining him on this occasion were White Rose stars Steven Patterson and Matthew Fisher, who were only too glad to hand out the gifts to the children.
Waiting to greet them at the hospice were excited children, parents, family members and hospice staff.
Multiflight and Infoserve joined forces this year to provide a helicopter and presents for a special treat. Staff of Infoserve, an online marketing company based in Leeds and Darlington, provided the presents, while the Boston Spa farmers allowed the helicopter to land in their field.
“We love being part of this special Christmas treat for the children, their families and the staff at Martin House Hospice; it is a highlight of our year,” says Linda Nicholls, Multiflight’s Charter Manager.
“We are delighted Steven and Matthew can join us this year. Martin House Hospice is a fantastic, deserving charity which we have proudly supported for a number of years and the arrival of Santa and the cricket stars is sure to be a wonderful occasion for everyone at the hospice.”
The hospice needs to raise £6.5 million annually to run the service, providing community care and also care at its purpose-built hospice in Boston Spa, Wetherby, for children and young people across West, East and North Yorkshire. Martin House offers family-led care for children with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses. It is a place where children, young people and their families can stay from time to time along their journey and find support, rest and practical help. Last year the hospice supported more than 420 children and young people and their families and also 150 bereaved families.
Yorkshire seamer Matthew Fisher added: “It was a pretty new experience for me. Me and Patto (Club captain Steven Patterson) were just trying to spread a little bit of Christmas joy to the children at Martin House Hospice.
“It’s nice to just get out of that training environment for the morning and have a different outlook for the day. It has been a very different day for me and Steve and it’s just about coming down here to try and put a smiles on a few of the children’s faces.
“The work they do here and the facilities they provide are absolutely fantastic. They can bring the kids outdoors and enjoy all the outdoor areas in the summer when it’s a bit warmer. The staff are just so welcoming and friendly. I’m sure the kids will look up to them and adore them for the care they provide.
“It’s pretty special that our job gives us the opportunity to come and be a face that children potentially look up to in wider society. Hopefully they see us as little stars in their eyes because they’re definitely little stars in our eyes. Hopefully they can keep battling through and that this small bit of positivity from this day will keep them going.”
Mark Arthur, Yorkshire County Cricket Club CEO, said: “We’re about making sure that all children have the best possible Christmas and this event certainly goes a long way towards making that happen.
“It’s incredible to see the smiles on their faces, whether through cricket directly or by the vast amount of community work we engage in all year round. Once again and, as we have for the last few years, it’s a privilege to play a small part in this.
“Our only hope is that the day is enjoyed, not only by the children, but also their families, friends and the incredibly hard working staff at Martin House Hospice.”
