Subscribe to Whizz-Kidz NewsStranded Travis Perkins staff hold ash cloud charity sweepstake
Without a doubt, thousands of people are experiencing the misery of being stuck far from home by ash cloud flight restrictions, but some smart staff from builders’ merchants Travis Perkins have turned their nightmare journey into a charity money spinner!
Robin Proctor and his team – John Carter, Norman Bell and John Peachey – have been in stranded in Istanbul for four days, but decided to set up the “Volcanic Turkey Sweepstake” using Virgin Money Giving to raise money for Travis Perkins’ Group Supply Chain Charity of the year, Whizz Kidz.
Aimed at colleagues, the sweepstake offered a £100 prize to the person who donated via the page and made the most accurate guess as to how long the journey back to the UK would take.
The team’s concept has blown up like a volcano however, as the £500 target has exploded and surpassed £3,000 (!) at the time of writing…
Travis Perkins HR department obviously enjoyed having some fun with their £65 charitable bid. They wrote on the fundraising page:
“We trust you have reported in to the appropriate line management correctly or this absence may be deemed unauthorised and therefore unpaid, and maybe subject to disciplinary action! If you need any advice you know where we are!”
Kat Hopps, Corporate Fundraising Officer at Whizz-Kidz said:
“We think this is an ingenious idea! Robin and the team have turned what could be seen as a frustrating scenario, into an opportunity for a fun charity challenge – this is exactly what makes our fundraisers great!”
“The money raised so far will mean so much to a young person; while many are stranded, these funds will buy mobility equipment for a child and get their life moving! Fantastic stuff which has clearly captured the imagination of the group, and beyond!”
Whizz-Kidz has changed the lives of nearly 11,000 disabled children since 1990 – often literally overnight. The charity supports young people to access the right mobility equipment – including powered wheelchairs – at the right time; and delivers wheelchair skills-training, work placements, and other life-skills to help their transition from childhood to adulthood.
There are still over 70,000 children in the UK who need our support.
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For further information please contact Rob Dyson, PR Manager on 020 7798 6103.
Notes to Editors
- The right wheelchair and mobility equipment is not automatically provided on the NHS, and it is virtually impossible for a disabled young person to get a powered wheelchair. The typical NHS budget for a wheelchair is £130, but it costs Whizz-Kidz £5,400 to give a disabled child the right powered wheelchair at the right time.
- Whizz-Kidz aims to joint-fund mobility equipment where possible with local NHS services, and aims to ensure that much-needed improvements are made in delivering wheelchair services for children in the UK.
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