Guide dogs charity to benefit as Rosedale Funeral Home celebrates 20 years
A funeral home service which started with upcycled furniture in its first office is giving back this year as it celebrates its 20th anniversary of serving the community.
Rosedale Funeral Home which now has seven branches, including in Diss, Harleston and Attleborough, has taken on a marathon fundraising effort for its chosen charity this year, Guide Dogs UK.
Lucy Coote, the community ambassador for the family-run independent business said the fundraising efforts already this year had been extraordinary and varied.
“We have done line dancing, we have had car boots, we had a stall at the Diss Carnival and even had a ‘Come Dine With Me’ style event last week in Scole for 32 people, which raised £2,400,” she said.
On top of this the business has raised more then £3,000 through a fundraising page for the cause, offering 20 trees for clubs, organisations or groups and is set to host an event in October on Fair Green to celebrate its milestone.
Started in 2004 in Victoria Road, Diss, director Anne Beckett-Allen described the the fledgling business as working on a shoestring.
“Our desks were up-cycled from a skip, furniture and pictures were borrowed from friends and family and we had to sell one of our cars to pay for our first hearse,” she added.
Since then the business has gone from strength and that is why, for their 20th anniversary, Ms Coote said it was so important for the business to thank the community for making it what it is today.
“Rosedale is embedded in the heart of the communities we serve and I think it is important for us because without our community what have you got?” she added.
“It is really important to us that we are accessible, that people are able to come through one of our doors and be met by people who truly care.
“We are an independent family-run business and the people we serve are at the heart of everything that we do, so that is why we continue do so as much for our community as we can.”
To find out more on Rosedale, its fundraising and its upcoming events, go to rosedalefuneralhome.co.uk.
