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EPR Archived News |
Chester Firm's Fun-Day Raises Smiles And Charity Cash
Released on: August 09, 2011, 11:44 am Sponges and sponge-cakes both took centre-stage at a charity fun-day held this week at the headquarters of a major finance group on Chester Business Park. Organised by ACF Car Finance, retail subsidiary of The Funding Corporation, the event offered the chance for staff to pay to have their cars hand-washed by the company's bosses. Managing Director David Challinor was among business chiefs rolling up his sleeves and setting-to with sponges and leathers on staff cars at International House. And for those who liked sponge-cakes as much as seeing their supervisors sweat, a cake-sale did a roaring trade in swelling both tummies and the charity coffers. The day-long activities at the car finance company were aimed at raising cash for the automotive industry's charity BEN – chosen charity of group company ACF Car Finance. The charity provides help and support to people connected with the motor trade, and operates four care centres around the country, with the closest on Merseyside. All 160 staff at The Funding Corporation were given the opportunity to join the fun day, and representatives from the charity were present to describe its work and the Payroll Giving scheme. Support was also received from various suppliers to the company, including the car-care firm Autoglym which provided car shampoo and other products for the sponsored wash-in. Helping to mastermind the event was the company's Marketing Manager Jane Whittle who is possibly one of BEN's most extreme fundraisers. In the past she has leapt from a plane flying at 14,000 feet on a tandem sky-dive, and earlier this year plunged 750-feet on a zip-wire from the top of Manchester's Imperial War Museum. But although this latest fundraising initiative had its feet firmly on the ground, Jane believes it will have done a great job in helping to raise the charity's profile among staff: "All the donations received will go towards the total which will be collected in October this year when two of our ACF Car Finance employees drive to Maranello in Northern Italy as part of BEN’s event – Banger4BEN. "Participants must spend no more than five hundred pounds on an old car to make the journey, and we have bought an old Volvo which is currently being transformed into the famous Ghostbusters Ectomobile. "This event will help get their fundraising off to a really flying start," said Jane. The Funding Corporation, which was named Britain's Most Responsible Lender in this year's Credit Today Awards, specialises in helping car buyers with damaged credit records. The company, commented Jane, has long been a champion of the motor industry's charity as well as local causes including the Claire House Children's Hospice in the Wirral. "We always like to try and create a bit of a buzz around our charity work - and I think that this week we certainly succeeded in putting the fun into fundraising!" said Jane. Local businesses which donated raffle prizes included: AAA Cheshire Handyman, La Cantina, Hickory’s Smokehouse, The Greyhound Inn and The Club and Spa at Hoole Hall. ends Contact Details: Jon Boston
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2012
