French Duncan selects Strathcarron Hospice as 2018 charity

Staff at Scottish accountancy firm French Duncan have continued with their tradition of choosing a new charity every year that they would most like to support after naming the Strathcarron Hospice in Stirling as the beneficiaries of their fundraising efforts for 2018.

Strathcarron provides specialist palliative care to patients with cancer, respiratory, heart conditions and neurological diseases in the community throughout the Fourth Valley area where French Duncan has a significant presence through its Stirling office.

Over the coming year, the firm said staff will be working hard towards raising funds for the hospice where all services are free and provided when and where they are needed most, be that at the hospice in Denny itself, in local hospitals, care homes, or even in patients’ own homes.

The charity employs nearly 200 people and their services cost over £6.5 million each year.

Despite funding from the NHS there is a shortfall of over £11,000 every day and the organisation relies heavily on volunteers and fundraising to provide its service.

Greg Callan, partner and head of entrepreneurial services at French Duncan, said “French Duncan are delighted to announce that our staff have selected Strathcarron Hospice as our charity for the year ahead. As a firm we have a strong presence in the Forth Valley area and it seems to me very appropriate that we support Strathcarron Hospice which has provided comfort and respite for so many families in the area over a long number of years. Everyone at French Duncan is looking forward to raising as much money as we can throughout the year to help Strathcarron maintain its valuable contribution to the community.”

French Duncan will be looking to replicate highly successful past money raising efforts and build on the £10,000 raised last year for Children with Cancer and Leukaemia Advice and Support for Parents (CCLASP).

The cheque of £10,000 was presented to CCLASP charity founder Valery Simpson during French Duncan’s annual Christmas lunch in December by the firm’s corporate social responsibility team and managing partner Graeme Finnie.

FD said the money will be used to help sick children and their families, hopefully making their lives just a little bit easier during an incredibly difficult time.