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Butterflies take flight for Donna Louise

kmf steel manufactured butterflies

KMF Group is part of a unique partnership forged between various companies from North Staffordshire and South Cheshire to support The Donna Louise Hospice for Children & Young People with their latest fundraising campaign, #TheButterflies.

The project involves the creation of 5,000 ceramic butterflies assembled into a stunning 6.4-metre-high ceramic art installation at Trentham Gardens. After taking pride of place at the Estate on the 24th May 2019 until November 2019, the sold butterflies will take flight again and return to the homes of their original donors.

Every penny raised from the sale of the ceramic butterflies will go straight to The Donna Louise Hospice, supporting hugely important causes, including the recent expansion of The Donna Louise to provide care and support for teens as they become adults.

KMF Group is one of several project partners manufacturing thousands of stainless-steel butterflies to complement the ceramic butterflies on the Taking Flight art installation. Also, KMF's Chris Mobley has played a significant role in actively designing and managing the manufacture of the structural dome that will house the ceramic and stainless-steel butterflies at Trentham Estate.

How did KMF Group become involved?

KMF's Managing Director, Gareth Higgins shared: "When Mel Campbell first discussed the project concept with me two years ago, I was very keen to be involved and very eager to try and get the local community involved. The catalyst moment for me was during the presentation of the concept butterfly designs by the Staffordshire University students and realising we could deliver a very viable project.

However, the project had several false starts, mainly due to the costs associated with delivering the project and the quality of the finished product. Thanks to our many partners and sponsors, we have overcome these obstacles and now have a great product showcased in the perfect location and have had an amazing level of financial support and in-kind sponsorship from many local businesses and partners.

"KMF has helped with a number of strands of the project, initially helping with the fundraising and asking the local business community to support the butterflies project. We have been part of a small working party to ensure that the product is manufactured to the best quality standard and manufactured by world-leading partners in Johnson Tiles and Wade Ceramics. But our main focus has been on the installation of the structure that will display the butterflies, working very closely with The Trentham Estate, Gladman Developments, Patera Engineering and PM Training.

The Butterflies project has many valuable facets. It will raise much-needed and significant funds for the hospice to continue and develop the care that it offers to the children, young people and their families. As a landmark art installation in such a fantastic, prominent location, the Butterflies will raise the public profile of The Donna Louise and will help the hospice to create long term relationships with local businesses and the local community."

Butterflies represent endurance, change, hope and life. They are often a symbol of fragile and short lives – much like the lives of the children and young people at The Donna Louise, whose precious time is cut short by illness.

Nathan Walton, Director of Income Generation at The Donna Louise, said: "This is a unique collaboration with many companies coming together to work for the good of a much loved and much-needed service, The Donna Louise.

"With less than 9% of our funding coming from government sources, and with an ever-increasing demand for our services, the need for support is now greater than ever before. We really can't say a big enough thank you to all of the sponsors and partners who have come on board to support this project. I have worked in the business arena in this area for 20-plus years, and this is the finest example of CSR collaboration I have seen."

You can still support the project by purchasing your ceramic butterfly or visiting the art installation at Trentham Gardens during the summer of 2019.

Huge thanks go to all of the partners and sponsors involved in the project, including: Tile Mountain (main sponsor), Johnson Tiles, Wade Ceramics, Valentine Clays, The Trentham Estate, PM Training, Advanced Packaging, Strategi Solutions, Miller and Co., Inspired Film and Video, Joanne Hine, Campbell Creative Consulting, Staffordshire University, Paul Williams, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, DPD, Red Industries, My Clever Group, QPS, Gladman Developments, Blakemans', Rydale Roofing, Franklyn Financial Management, Holdcroft Heating, Envisage.

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