News Item: Niftylift Creates 'Sam the Swan' for Local Charity Willen Hospice

Pictured L-R: Sam Thornton - Niftylift, Nikki Poole - Willen Hospice, Dave Sheeky – Niftylift, Debbie Burns – Willen Hospice

Niftylift has built a giant swan float to help raise awareness for Milton Keynes based charity, Willen Hospice.

This unique float, created by Niftylift, took its maiden voyage on Monday, to mark the start of National Hospice Care Week and help raise awareness of Willen Hospice in Milton Keynes.

Sam the Swan was built from a second-hand Niftylift trailer mount using a combination of refurbished parts, materials kindly donated by MKM Building Supplies and special 'swan parts' designed and 3D-printed at Niftylift's Milton Keynes factory.

The entire project was managed by Niftylift Engineer Sam Thornton, who worked tirelessly on his feathered namesake in his spare time to have it ready for its maiden voyage. The finishing touches were added by local artist Angela Maher of Pencil Sketch Portraits, who gave Sam the Swan it's face and other fine details.

Sam the Swan will be touring Milton Keynes over the coming weeks and months, so keep an eye out and share any photos you take using #samtheswan.

Willen Hospice is one of more than 200 charitable hospices across the UK taking part in Hospice Care Week (5–11 October), led by the national hospice and end of life care charity, Hospice UK, highlighting what it takes to provide care to those who need it most. This year many charitable hospices like Willen are facing financial challenges, with the support they receive from the public being more important than ever before. Hospice UK estimates that since the COVID crisis began in March, collectively hospices have lost in the region of £70 million in fundraised income. Willen, like many hospices in England, relies on 70% of their funding from public donations through charity shops and fundraisers, which has not been possible during the pandemic.

Willen Hospice is close to their hearts at Niftylift so now, more than ever, they'd like people to recognise and support the important work that they do for those in need. Niftylift wishes them well in their fundraising efforts and looks forward to seeing Sam the Swan in action.

If you’d like to donate, please text FLOAT to 70460 to donate £5. (Text FLOATNOINFO to avoid additional communications).