Brooke and Bully tee off to help golf day hit £40,000 charity target

ONE of the world’s greatest rugby number 8s went head-to-head with one of the Black Country’s most iconic football number 9s as part of a major fundraising event.

Zinzan Brooke, who played 58 tests for the All Blacks and was the only rugby played to score a drop goal at Wembley Stadium, faced Wolverhampton Wanderers legend Steve Bull at the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Golf Day.

The event, held at the Astbury Golf Course in Bridgnorth, raised more than £3,000 and saw 114 golfers across 26 teams do battle for the coveted title.

It’s the latest in a long line of activities organised by First 4 Staff director Jason Guy, after his wife Lucy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, aged just 31.

The local entrepreneur – working with friends, family and business colleagues – has put on quiz nights, sporting dinners, and even a horse show to bring the current total up to an impressive £40,000.

“We’re naturally delighted to hit such a big milestone and to do it in such style, with one of the all-time rugby ‘greats’ and one of my footballing heroes leading two of the teams out,” he said.

Tuk tuk trio raise £12,000 for children’s hospital

A WARWICKSHIRE businessman has raised £12,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital after driving around India in a three-wheeler rickshaw with two of his friends.

Gary Redman, managing director at Now Careers, was inspired to take on the challenge for Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and in particular the Heart Investigations Unit, after finding out he had a number of problems with his own heart.

The rickshaw trek saw Gary and his friends Adrian Duff and Donald Stout travel 3,000km across the widest part of India from Jaisalmer in the North West to Shillong in the North East.

The trio set themselves the task of completing the journey in just 14 days, with no set route planned. Only the start and finish points were decided, so the three friends had to rely on map reading, compass skills, a strong stomach and determination to get them across the notorious roads of India.

Gary said: “I know that my heart can’t fix itself but I count myself lucky that I am fit and healthy. This is the reason why I want to be able to help others, because I know that by pushing myself I will be able to make a difference to the children treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.”

Elinor Eustace, corporate partnerships manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We want to say a massive thank you to Gary and his friends for taking on such a physical and mental challenge for our hospital. I don’t think we’ve ever had anyone complete a tuk tuk trek across India before.”

IT firm does its bit for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity

LOCAL IT firm Technology Management has donated software and service contribution, worth around £80,000 over three years, to Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC).

It means the charity now has has a cloud-based Microsoft Dynamics CRM (Customer Relationship Management) solution to support and expand its fundraising activities so the charity can reduce its administrative time, continue to improve engagement with donors and charity supporters across the region, increase donations and ultimately save more lives.

Technology Management, based in Wolverhampton and a Microsoft Dynamics partner, has provided software and support that will enable the charity to improve communications with corporate sponsors, individual supporters and volunteers.

The new system also allows the charity to execute more targeted and cost-effective marketing campaigns, streamline event management activities, better manage revenue streams, co-ordinate all fundraising meetings, phone calls, emails and other correspondence activity and track & report on all donations.

Angela Watkins of MAAC said, “Our existing system was a combination of cumbersome, and rigid software and Excel spread sheets. With the planned expansion in our fundraising activities, we recognised we needed a much more integrated and user-friendly solution.

“Without Technology Management’s generosity in providing a substantial contribution towards the software, hosting, implementation and training costs, it just wouldn’t be possible.”

James Crowter, managing director at Technology Management, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, which saves so many lives in the region and be part of the charity’s IT improvement programme.”

Morrisons Great Birmingham 10k Business Challenge winners revealed

FINE Energy, CBRE and Delcam emerged as the three overall winners from the inaugural Morrisons Great Birmingham 10k Business Challenge.
 
Over 350 runners from 26 companies entered the competition, with an engraved trophy awarded to the three main winners.
 
Rankings were based on the accumulated first four finishing times in each team.
 
David Hart, communications director for the Morrisons Great Birmingham 10k, said: “We were delighted with the response from local businesses to the first ever Morrisons Great Birmingham 10k – there were some really impressive times, as well as great amounts raised for good causes.”