Cheque it out
Many of our employees take advantage of our employee sponsorship programme. Alan Neasham, a distribution support representative received a donation and wrote the following account of his activity.
“The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) approached me, as an employee of Northumbrian Water, to take part in a Blindfolded 10 Pin Bowling Challenge. I was only too happy to oblige. The £250 sponsorship money needed was provided through the company sponsorship scheme Cheque it out. This was received by completing a simple application form.
The idea of the annual event is to raise money for a very worthy charity. Every day over 100 people start to lose their sight. The RNIB helps to rebuild lives devastated by sight loss by providing over 60 services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
All I needed was six team members, sponsorship money and enough guts to stomach the (not-so) tasty basket meal. The scene was set, myself, Barrie McIntosh, Craig Hesse, Peter Theakston, Steve Taylor and Terry Connell (all employees of Northumbrian Water) descended on Teesside Park on what was promised to be a fun packed evening.
We weren’t disappointed. The night went really well, starting with the inevitable trip to the bar. In the end, our team, The Damp Patchers, beat 15 other teams from across the region to lift the trophy for first prize.
We all had a great evening and raised money for charity, winning the event was an added bonus. Bring on the challengers for next year's tournament!”
Jim Teasdale, based at our Birtley stw took part in a Children’s Cancer Run in May, he said “I did the cancer run because I have children and grandchildren and wanted to try and do some good for those less fortunate who have cancer. It is bad enough that grown ups have cancer but children have had no life, I have seen these kids with cancer and it is heart breaking. So I am all for fundraising for this cause.
I would like to thank Northumbrian Water for the cheque and thank my workmates at Northumbrian Water and my friends for the support they gave me”.
One of our employees is involved with Ashington AFC Junior Section. He coaches the under 16s and helps out with coaching the under 11s for the club. He is also their Vice Chairman. The club is currently raising funds to buy winter training coats for the under 11s as they are moving from 7 a side to 11 a side and the team has grown.
This team won their division (La Liga) this season and won the Blackpool Plate Tournament earlier in June – high hopes are held for when they start to play 11 a side next season. Dave has successfully applied for a Cheque it Out donation to help with the purchase of coats.
Ashington AFC are an FA chartered club and are currently working on a five year plan in association with the senior club towards gaining Community Charter status. For more information, please visit “ashington afc” where details can be found of this team winning the tournament under the latest news.
John O’Groats to Land’s End for Meningitis UK
Peter Ayre and his wife raised £890 for Meningitis UK when they completed a 17 mile walk from Carlisle to Penrith undertaken as part of a national walk from John O’Groats to Land’s End. Peter applied to Cheque it Out for a donation towards their fundraising efforts.
Peter said, “We have supported Meningitis charities since 1994 when our 16 year old son Richard contracted the disease and did not survive. Significant steps have been made since in managing the disease and in developing vaccines for various strains of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia.
As you are probably aware from national media coverage a vaccine against group C meningitis has been developed and is now administered as part of public health protection. However, the most common strain, group B, still has no effective preventative vaccine available. It is the aim of Meningitis UK to support research programmes that specifically are looking at meningococcal vaccines.
The charity organises a number of a sponsored walks a year and has raised significant sums of money. This years John O'Groats to Land's End raised well over £100,000. As well as walks, numerous other events and activities are managed to raise funds for research, most of which involve people and families who have had direct experience of the devastating effects of the disease.
Once again thanks to Northumbrian Water for their support.