A SOCIAL enterprise in Coventry which provides essential rehabilitation for those with long-term heart, lung and circulation problems is facing a race-against time to raise funds to improve its facilities.
Atrium Health, based in Watch Close in the city centre, has received a pledge of £10,000 from Sport England – but on the condition that it can match that amount through community support by July 24.
The enterprise, which opened in 2007, must raise a further £10,000 from the local community to achieve the £20,000 it needs to create a wheelchair access toilet for its first-floor exercise and health education unit.
The not-for-profit organisation has launched a crowdfunding campaign which has already reached just over £1,000 and is planning a sponsored indoor cycle ride to celebrate Coventry City’s promotion to the Championship.
Atrium’s gym staff will cycle the distance it would take to reach each ground in the Championship – totalling 2,359 miles – in 24 hours from midday on Friday June 26.
Kerry Malik, executive assistant at Atrium Health, said: “Our urgent goal is to improve our commitment to disability access at our facility by the provision of a wheelchair accessible toilet facility for our first-floor exercise and health education unit.
“We are thrilled that Sport England has generously pledged £10,000.
“However, we have to raise the remaining £10,000 in just 40 days – or we won’t keep any of the funds raised so far – and that money must come from a minimum of 100 unique supporters, meaning it needs a real community effort to secure the funding we need.
“It’s a real race against time to bring in the money we need to improve our facilities for thousands of our members and their loved ones. Receiving the Sport England pledge has accelerated our motivation to increase supporters and involvement with our project.
“We’ve already had a strong response to our crowdfunder but we need to move quickly and, on top of that, members of our gym team will be embarking on a cycle ride to celebrate the fantastic achievement of Coventry City and to bring in more sponsorship.”
Visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/facilitiesforthefuture to donate. Donors will receive a reward depending on the level of funding they give, from £15 to £100.
Visit www.atrium-health.co.uk for more information on Atrium Health.
