Charity duo tame dragon

TWO enterprising North West business people, who raised thousands of pounds for charity, have won the Institute of Directors NW Award for Innovation.

As well as the title, Sheldon Bean and Nigel Woolfstein from Whitefield won a personal visit from Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis and a day’s training from business coach Nick Robinson.

The duo organised a 24-hour tennis match, which raised more than £17,000.
The award recognises the most inventive way a company or individual raised money to support The New Children’s Hospital Appeal’s Many Hands Campaign.

The Many Hands Campaign raised £100,000 for the £20m Appeal, which is just £1.8m short of its target.

Appeal chairman, leading lawyer Maurice Watkins, said “We are grateful to all those who took part in the campaign.

“By joining together they have helped us to take a step closer to our £20m target so that we can make a real difference to the patients and their families at the new children’s hospital.”

Theo Paphitis, whose stationery business Ryman has its head office in Crewe added: “Everyone involved has done a fantastic job.  The Many Hands Campaign has enabled the business community to come together and support a project that will benefit so many children and their families making them all winners.  

“This campaign has highlighted the great work that many companies undertake to support their local community.”