Christmas came early for five Dumfries and Galloway charities who shared almost £28,000.
Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue Centre, Lockerbie Wildlife Trust, Dumfries Veterans Garden, Boreland-based Sports Driving Unlimited, and Moffat Mountain Rescue Team were each awarded £5,586.60 thanks to the fundraising prowess of 150 staff members of Lochmaben manufacturer, Russell Roof Tiles.
The charities were chosen by the staff to benefit from their Give4Good charity initiative and representatives were presented with their cheques at the firm’s Halleaths site.
This year Russell Roof Tiles took part in a wide range of varied events and activities to raise money including baking, sports, a Race Across Europe challenge, Superstars Challenge, Tough Mudder, comedy and race nights, big charity quiz and a car boot sale.
In total, the company has raised £80,690 in 2024 – its highest amount ever in a single year, against its original target of £50,000.
As well as the local charities, this money is being shared with two international charities, Footprints Family and Odisha Football Club Kids in Poverty Fund, plus five charities local to Russell Roof Tiles site in Burton on Trent.
The company’s managing director, Andrew Hayward, celebrated the work of the charities and thanked staff, suppliers and customers for their donations and support.
He said: “I am delighted that we can share the Give4Good cash amongst some amazing local causes who do such excellent work in the community.
“It’s been another record-breaking year of fundraising for us and despite the cost-of-living crisis we’ve smashed our target. Our teams have done an amazing job, volunteering their time and efforts to help raise money.
“As part of our company values, we are committed to supporting local community charities and good causes. We introduced our neighbourhood and community programme, not just to fundraise but to invest time to benefit our wider community.”
“It is an honour to handover the money raised to these exceptional charities and I’m proud to be able to support them so they can continue the vital work they do in our community.”
As part of Give4Good, in July three members of the wider Russell Roof Tiles family spent a week volunteering with the Footprints Family charity in Kenya, supporting the children that the organisation works to help.
Debbie Allen, Gillian Moffat and Jacqui Summers from Lochmaben all travelled each had to raise money to fund the visit as well as raising funds to buy a new minibus for the charity.
Over the past few years, the Russell Roof Tiles team (past and present) have taken part in fundraising activities, including Soup-a-stars, Dancing on the Tiles, Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, firewalking, Ryder Cup tournaments, a Peaky Blinders-themed evening, skydiving and paddle boarding to raise money.