Housing trust raises thousands for charity

STAFF from Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (bdht) raised £2,552.68 through a variety of charity schemes throughout 2015.

The trust appoints a number of charities each year that are nominated by staff, and at the end of the year all money raised is split between them.

In 2015 bdht supported St Basils (young people’s homelessness), Stroke Association, Cancer Research, Alzheimer’s Research, Children in Need and Homelessness in Bromsgrove.

Staff took part in a number of fund raising initiatives across the year including Wear it Red for the British Heart Foundation, Comic Relief, National Autism Awareness Week, MacMillan’s Night In, Race for Life, Alzheimer’s Country Walk, Wear it Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness and Children in Need.

They also donned their aprons and baked cakes to raise funds for Lennon Children’s Charity and SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy), as well as supporting local causes such as Lickey End Playgroup in raising money for a defibrillator, the Blue Cross Animal Sanctuary, Fairtrade Fortnight and raised funds to provide meals for the homeless.

Mike Brown, chief executive of bdht, said: “We’re really pleased to have raised such a fantastic amount for charity. We strongly believe in supporting both national and local good causes and all of our staff have a great time joining in the fundraising activities.”

George Green support Motor Neurone Disease Association

BLACK Country law firm George Green  has chosen the charity it will raise funds for during the course of 2016. It has decided to support Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association is the only national charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland focused on MND care, research and campaigning. MND affects up to 5,000 adults in the UK at any one time. It is a fatal, rapidly progressing disease that affects the brain and spinal cord; it attacks the nerves that control movement so muscles no longer work.

The Association funds and promotes research that leads to new understanding and treatments, and brings us closer to a cure. As well as this it also funds specialist equipment and support grants for people diagnosed with MND.

George Green will be holding, and participating in, various events over the next year in order to raise money for the charity including the “Wolf Run”, a 10K obstacle course in Warwickshire, Walk to D’feet, which is a walk from the firm’s office in Cradley Heath to its office in Wolverhampton, and the Three Peaks Challenge.

David Stevenson, chief executive said “This charity, which was chosen by our staff, is close to our hearts. The money we raise over the next year will be going to help the local MND group in Sandwell and Dudley.

“We are very much hoping to be able to provide funds to help pay for equipment and volunteer training which will help meet some of the needs of MND sufferers locally.” 

Clements helps make Molly Olly’s Wishes come true

A CHILDREN’S charity is reaching new heights thanks to the generosity of a Coventry equipment hire firm.

Clements, based in Torrington Avenue, has made Molly Olly’s Wishes the firm’s official charity after the company’s chairman Jim Longstaff was inspired by the organisation’s work when he heard about it at a pantomime production.

Molly Olly’s Wishes, based at Hatton Park near Warwick, supports children with terminal and life-threatening illnesses by providing wishes and therapeutic toys and books.

The charity was launched by the family of Molly Ollerenshaw, who sadly passed away in June 2011 at the age of eight following a five year battle with a rare type of kidney cancer.

One of the ways the charity supports children is through Olly The Brave – a specially created therapeutic toy lion that has a removable mane. The toy helps children understand the treatment they will or are receiving and some of the side effects such as the loss of their hair.

Clements has pledged to donate all money raised from its fundraising activities to the children’s charity.

It has painted one of its aerial work platforms pink in support of the charity, and the support doesn’t end there – other members of the Clements team are also pitching in as well. 

Longstaff said: “We think there’s such great potential to work together and for our company to support them. With a local charity like this, the more people that know about it the better as there are so many opportunities to fund raise.”

Mondelēz International backs UK judo star

COVENTRY-born judo star Sam Ingram has been given a boost on the road to Rio thanks to Birmingham-based snacks giant Mondelēz International.

It has signed up the athlete as one of its official athlete ambassadors.

As an official partner for the British Paralympic Association (BPA), Mondelēz International will be backing Sam all the way to the biggest Paralympic sporting event, the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Sam, who won a silver medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, hopes to represent the Paralympics GB judo team next year.

He said: “Taking part in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games has always been a goal for me. I want to be seen as a role model for other upcoming Paralympic athletes and inspire people to follow their passion.

“I am extremely grateful to Mondelēz International for selecting me as one of their athlete ambassadors. I can continue my journey knowing that I have a lot of support behind me.”