Dragon’s call to back Many Hands campaign

ENTREPRENEUR and investor Theo Paphitis is backing a charity drive to encourage North West businesses to raise £150,000.

The star of Dragons’ Den and owner of Crewe-based stationery chain Ryman, Mr Paphitis is again supporting the Many Hands Campaign, a 12-month long initiative to raise money for the new Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity.

Many Hands, as its name suggests, is encouraging local businesses to each pledge to raise £1,000 in the most inventive way they can.

Companies that sign up to Many Hands will automatically be entered into the fund-raising competition in which they will be judged on various criteria to be crowned the 2011 Many Hands Campaign winner.

Firms which join the campaign will benefit from a series of networking events during the year including the launch event in February, featuring an inspired talk from Theo about what makes a successful business.  

Mr Paphitis said, “The Many Hands Campaign is a brilliant way to get small and medium sized business involved in their local charity and it gives them a platform to shine.

“Charity isn’t always about money, it is about ideas and people and it will be very interesting to see how the companies involved make a difference.”

The judging panel will include Theo, leading lawyer Maurice Watkins – the chairman of the charity, and other invited judges.

Companies entering the Many Hands challenge will need to demonstrate internal engagement of staff, raising awareness of the charity.

Maurice Watkins said, “We are delighted to have Theo back on board and we feel that with his support the North West business community will help achieve our target of raising £150,000.”

Companies wishing to sign up for the Many Hands Campaign can do so by visiting http://www.rmchcharity.org.uk/manyhands/ or by calling 0161 276 4522