A Cheltenham-based medical charity is once again calling on the public to recycle their used Christmas cards to help raise vital funds for patients across the region.
Cobalt will be accepting donated Christmas and greetings cards from Monday 29 December until Thursday 15 January, with drop-off points available at Thirlestaine Breast Clinic on Thirlestaine Road, Cheltenham. Members of the public are asked to leave whole cards only, placed in sealed carrier bags, at clearly signposted wheelie bins.
The donated cards will be carefully sorted by volunteers and upcycled into new greetings cards, which are sold to support the charity’s work. Cobalt provides specialist diagnostic imaging for patients with cancer, dementia and other serious conditions, and also funds research to improve understanding and treatment of disease.
The charity has been running its Christmas card recycling scheme for more than 40 years, making it one of its longest-standing fundraising initiatives.
David Levick, Fundraising Manager at Cobalt, said:
“This recycling card scheme was started over 40 years ago by Cobalt volunteers who were thinking of the future. Cards are sorted and then upcycled by our many volunteers into greetings and Christmas cards.”
Cobalt is again being supported by Printwaste, a Gloucestershire-based shredding and recycling company that has worked with the charity for 15 years. Printwaste will ensure that any unusable cards or paper trimmings are recycled responsibly.
The funds raised help Cobalt continue delivering cutting-edge imaging equipment that is not routinely available within NHS trusts, allowing for clearer scans and more accurate diagnoses. The charity supports patients across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, helping thousands of local people each year.
By partnering with Printwaste as part of its annual “Big Sort”, Cobalt says it is also reducing unnecessary household waste while supporting environmental sustainability.
Cobalt greetings cards are available to buy all year round from Linton House and other local outlets, with proceeds directly supporting patient care and research.
Anyone wishing to take part, or find out more, can contact the Cobalt Fundraising Team on 01242 535922 or visit www.cobalthealth.co.uk.