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Energy Save Help 12-Year-Old Girl Raise Cash for Hospital

Energy Save Help 12-Year-Old Girl Raise Cash for Hospital

A 12-year-old girl has raised more £3,000 as a thank you to Birmingham Children’s Hospital which provides care for her big sister who is battling a brain condition.

                                                                                   L-R: Catherine Rowan, Shannon Finlan and Jason Rowan

Shannon Finlan, from Cannock in Staffordshire, organised a charity gig at St Mary and St Thomas Moore Catholic Social Club as part of the Big Gig Live campaign, a month of musical fundraising for Birmingham Children's Hospital.

More than £3,000 was raised with the final figure just in.


One of the largest contributions - £500 -  being donated by Jason Rowan, managing director of Derby based Energy Save. Jason heard about the event after Shannon’s father, Dean Finlan, began working at Energy Save as a field consultant, and was touched by their plight. 

Shannon’s mother, Michelle Finlan, 39, said:

“We are incredibly proud of everything that Shannon has done and we’re so thankful for all the donations that we have received.

“Jason really started the ball rolling by donating such a large amount, as his generosity gained a lot of talk, interest and momentum, helping to raise the profile of Shannon’s event.”


The hospital is close to Shannon's heart, as her older sister Sarah McIntosh, 18, was diagnosed with meningitis at just six-weeks-old and as a complication of that has an on-going condition called hydrocephalus, a build up of fluid on the brain.

Sarah’s care was transferred from Manchester Children’s Hospital to Birmingham Children’s Hospital when she was five, when the family moved from Manchester to Cannock. The Birmingham hospital took over Sarah’s care, including many brain operations.

Jason said:

“When I heard about Dean’s step-daughter's condition and the wonderful support that Birmingham Hospital has provided for his family over the years, I wanted to take the opportunity to donate to such a meaningful cause.

"At Energy Save, we recognise the importance of getting to know your staff and supporting them both inside and outside of the work place and I am happy to say that we were able to help Shannon raise such a great total."

The Big Gig put together a range of acts, including former guitarist for The Alarm, Dave Sharp, and Shannon's own Irish band, formed with her school mates, in which she plays an Irish drum called a bodhran,

Michelle added:

“Everyone has been so generous and now, because of everyone’s input, Shannon will be able to donate £3,000 to the hospital to help other children with medical conditions."

More than £2,100 of the grand total was raised on a online Justgiving page and an additional £896 was raised in raffle tickets. There are also ongoing auctions which can still be bid on.

Some of the raffle tickets and auction prizes still to be won include tickets to see Madness, four tickets to the Birmingham Bears Cricket Club, a £30 book voucher and theatre tickets.


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