Let’s turn the Island into the Isle of Yellow! That’s the challenge as Mountbatten launches Go Yellow for 2019, raising funds and awareness of the Island’s only hospice.

The annual fundraiser takes place on Friday 4 October and is an event that everyone can get involved in – from dressing top to toe in yellow, to baking yellow cakes and more. This year, supporters can even fly the flag for Mountbatten by purchasing a bright yellow car flag from Mountbatten’s charity shops, any Sainsbury’s store and Isle of Wight Radio.

Dani Johnson, Mountbatten Community Fundraiser, said: “Think of it as an Island-wide mufti day and dig out an item of yellow clothing to wear from your wardrobe or pop into a Mountbatten shop to pick up a bargain statement piece. Whether you go for a full-on banana suit or simply accent your outfit with a yellow scarf, you’ll be showing your support for Mountbatten and for people across the Isle of Wight community.”

Whether it’s pennies or pounds, every donation will enable Mountbatten to reach more people living with terminal illness, as well as Islanders who have been bereaved. Only around a third of Mountbatten’s income comes from the NHS, which is why the charity is so reliant on support from the community to continue reaching as many people as possible that need our help.

Nigel Hartley, CEO Mountbatten, said: “We know that more and more people on the Isle of Wight are in need of our support – we have an ageing population and we feel the growth in demand much more here on the Island. Mountbatten believes no-one should face death or dying without our care and support. Most of the time our work is very serious, but I hope that everyone who gets in involved in Go Yellow will a great time whilst fundraising for a cause that is close to so many Islanders’ hearts.”

Already signed up to support the fundraising initiative are media partners Isle of Wight Radio, who will be keeping the Island updated with Go Yellow news on 4 October. Meanwhile, Red Funnel staff will be encouraging customers to get involved and support Mountbatten, which is their charity of the year. Sainsbury’s stores across the Island are also getting behind the campaign.

There are many ways to get involved:

• sign up online to let us know what you’re doing and order any merchandise you might want to sell to help your event raise even more
• download Go Yellow posters, bunting and cake flags
• set up your own online fundraising page and share on social media
• share your Go Yellow photos on Facebook and Twitter @MountbattenIW
• buy a Go Yellow flag for £3 from any Mountbatten shop, any Sainsbury’s store or from Isle of Wight Radio
• buy a Mountbatten Sunflower
• plant a virtual sunflower on our website field by donating online to our Go Yellow appeal
• listen to Isle of Wight Radio on 4 October and share your fundraising stories
• follow the official Go Yellow lemon drizzle cake recipe in September’s Beacon magazine and hold a cake sale

Main photo (l to r): Hannah Joyce, Major Events Fundraiser at Mountbatten, Dani Johnson, Community Events Fundraiser at Mountbatten, Nigel Hartley, CEO Mountbatten, Charlie Bird, Sainsbury’s General Store Manager, Jamie White, broadcast journalist Isle of Wight Radio, Paul Topping, Programme Director Isle of Wight Radio, Carl Hall, Red Funnel staff member and Mountbatten fundraiser, Hayley Woodward, Isle of Wight Radio presenter, Georgie Carter, Isle of Wight Radio presenter, Katie Mew, Head of Income Generation at Mountbatten, Jacky Ford, Events Assistant at Mountbatten, Louise Maidment, Sainsbury’s PR officer, Kat Botfield, CSR & Marketing Assistant at Red Funnel and Tanya Smith, Events Assistant at Mountbatten.