We are proud to provide a sustainable, affordable, clean and safe water supply and to manage and treat the waste water returned to us in a way that protects the environment.
16/11/2007
World Toilet Day has encouraged a North East charity enthusiast to spend a penny on the road to raise lots of pounds for the developing world.
Northumbrian Water’s Facility Manager Dave Whiteley, who is responsible for the water company’s sites from Berwick down to North Yorkshire and across to the Pennines, is to cycle around five miles on a bog standard bike – a bicycle with a real toilet and cistern attached to it as the seat! – to raise vital funds for WaterAid.
Dave, who will be flushed with his effort, is to bike from the water company’s head office in Pity Me, Durham, to Barkers Haugh sewage treatment works, on Frankland Lane in Durham, at 10.00am on Monday, November 19. He will raise money with every pedal pushed to provide sanitation and clean, safe water in Africa and Asia.
If you would like Dave to pedal for pounds in your area on Monday or another day please contact Joanne Robertson on 0191 301 6733.
Children from Cassop Primary School, Durham, DH6 4RA, are also doing their bit for World Toilet Day. They will be involved in a number of activities from 10.30am on Monday, November 19. Children will be given a talk, take part in a quiz and meet Northumbrian Water’s giant walking talking toilet.
Employees of Northumbrian Water will also be taking part in activities to raise money for WaterAid including cake bakes and donation tubs.
Fifty-five year old Dave, who lives in Tynemouth, said: “Imagine life without a toilet in your home or at work. Imagine the mess. Imagine the disease. It's hard to imagine life without something we take for granted, but this is the daily reality for 2.6 billion people, that is 40% of the world's population. Five thousand children die every day from diarrhoeal diseases.
“I am riding the toilet on Monday to raise awareness about the world’s sanitation crisis and to raise money for the unfortunate people in the developing world who do not have this basic human right.”
Illness caused by the lack of toilets prevents people from working and stops children going to school. Teenage girls are too embarrassed to go to school without latrines and teachers won't work in them.
To sponsor Dave and change peoples’ lives please visit www.justgiving.com/davewhiteley4, all donations will be gratefully received.
WaterAid is Northumbrian Water’s adopted international charity which provides sanitation, clean water and hygiene education for people in Africa and Asia.
It costs as little as £15, the average price of a DVD, to provide these basic human rights for people in Africa and Asia for life.
Further information on WaterAid can be found on website www.wateraid.org or by contacting Julie Wilson, fund raising secretary, via email at julie.wilson@nwl.co.uk or on 0191 301 6713.
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For further information please contact Joanne Robertson on 0191 301 6733.