Charity news: Wilby; PPR Foundation; Sovereign Health Care; Linley & Simpson; Squire Sanders
INSURANCE broker and risk management specialist Wilby is celebrating its 30th anniversary and to mark the occasion, it is getting involved in 30 charity events over the next 12 months.
The Halifax-based business was launched in 1984 by Peter and Nora Wilby and this year, staff will be taking part in 30 charity events raising money for a range of charities. In addition, during 2014 people will have the opportunity to donate to Wilby’s Virgin Money Giving site which will be distributed to two charities – Overgate Hospice and The Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
To reach the ambitious target of 30 events Wilby will continues to sponsor and take part in some events they’ve taken part in for a number of years such as Pedal for Pounds, NSPCC Golf Day and the Great Manchester Run. There will also be some new events including a 30-hour cycle challenge, 5-a-side football challenge and a 100km walk.
Wilby managing director, Richard Blackburn, said: “It’s a great achievement for the company to reach its 30th anniversary, we couldn’t have reached this milestone without the fantastic support of our clients and the local community. I am looking forward to getting involved in the fundraising this year.”
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THE PPR Foundation – Brain Tumour Research charity (PPR) has opened a new office in Ripley.
The charity was founded by Pam Roberts, following the tragic death of her husband, Peter, from a malignant brain tumour. Pam, who lives near Harrogate, set up the charity in 2009 to raise money for research aimed at eradicating brain tumours, which affect thousands of people across the UK every year.
She came up with the inspirational idea of asking people to donate just £1 each to reach a target of £1m by the end of 2015, with 100% of money raised going towards brain tumour research. The trustees and volunteers, most of whose lives have been directly affected by the death of a loved one from a brain tumour, cover all administration costs and expenses personally.
PPR has already raised and ring-fenced £350,000 which is currently funding a team of three personnel, (known as‘Team PPR). The research is being led by Professor Susan Short and carried out at the research laboratory at St James’s Hospital in Leeds – the only one in Yorkshire dedicated to brain tumour research.
Pam Roberts said: “We intend to leave no stone unturned in our determination to plough much needed funds into brain tumour research. Having a professional base will be invaluable in continuing to drive forward our fundraising which currently stands at nearly £400,000.”
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THE charitable trust of Bradford-based cash plan provider Sovereign Health Care has donated enough money to provide a year’s support to 50 younger stroke survivors across Yorkshire.
After giving £2,500 last year to Different Strokes, a registered charity working with sufferers under the age of 65, the trust has now granted the organisation a further £3,000.
The donation was one of 25 totalling more than £54,000 approved by the board of the Sovereign Health Care Charitable Trust, in the second of six rounds it will make this year totalling more than £500,000.
Different Strokes is the only user-led organisation working with stroke survivors young enough to be in employment throughout the UK. It helps them optimise their recovery, take control of their lives and regain as much independence as possible, by offering rehabilitation services, information and advice. More than 50 of the survivors the charity supports live in Bradford, and a further 800 within Yorkshire.
Catharine Pusey, chief executive, said: “We’re delighted to receive this generous donation from Sovereign Health Care Charitable Trust. It will help us provide information, guidance and support to younger stroke survivors in the Yorkshire area, enabling them to manage the many and varied consequences of strokes, and achieve the best possible quality-of-life.”
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NINE staff from a Yorkshire residential sales and letting agency pedalled off on a 70-mile fundraising bike ride to celebrate the county’s hosting of the start of this year’s Tour de France.
The team from Linley & Simpson completed their route from York to Ripon to Harrogate to Ilkley to Leeds in just one day, raising money for Martin House Children’s Hospice at Boston Spa – the company’s inaugural charity of the year.
In doing so, the saddle-sore but successful riders propelled the amount of money collected for the charity through the £25,000 mark – smashing its original target of £20,000.
Among those who completed the gruelling trip were founding director Will Linley and colleagues Martin Elliott, Danny Tasker, Derryn Ward, Kim Smith, Dan Bond, Paul Bridgeman, Greg Smallwood and Ross Harding.
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EMPLOYEES from law firm Squire Sanders, with additional support from audit firm BDO, joined forces to display their vocal talents to Yorkshire’s commuters to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society.
The recently formed Squire Choir performed at Leeds Station, singing a selection of modern and classic tunes. The singing event took place during the Alzheimer’s Societies dementia awareness week to tie in with the Society’s Singing for the Brain project which uses singing to bring people together in a stimulating social environment and uses songs to evoke verbal and emotional memories in people with language and communication difficulties.
The group raised more than £2,000 for the charity.
