Equine bedding manufacturer Bedmax is marking its 25th anniversary with a special fundraising campaign in support of The Freeman Hospital Heart and Lung Transplant Association.
The company aims to raise 拢25,000 for the charity, which plays a crucial role in supporting world-class heart and lung transplant services, as well as advancing groundbreaking research in the field of transplant medicine.
The firm chose the charity after it helped Tony Robinson, the company鈥檚 production development manager, who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2017. After years of managing the condition with medications, he underwent a life-saving lung transplant at the Freeman Hospital in 2023.
Part of its fundraising campaign will be a bike ride undertaken by managing director Tim Smalley and operations manager Olivia Leyland. They will cycle nearly 400 miles, starting at the company鈥檚 production plant near Andover, calling in at their production plant at Caunton, Nottinghamshire, and finishing at the original manufacturing site Greymare in Northumberland.
Adele Lambert, chair of The Freeman Heart & Lung Transplant Association said: 鈥淲e at the FHLTA are honoured to be chosen by Bedmax as their charity of the year. It鈥檚 really significant as Tony has been in that situation and understands the needs of transplant patients and the help we can offer before and after a heart or lung transplant. Any funds raised will go towards heart and lung transplant research and to help support our patients and their families through the transplant process. We wish them luck with all of their fundraising tasks throughout the year.鈥
Mr Robinson said: 鈥淭he care I received at Freeman Hospital was nothing short of extraordinary. From the initial diagnosis to the transplant surgery and the long road to recovery, I was supported by an amazing team of medical professionals. I鈥檓 proud that Bedmax is supporting Freeman鈥檚 research and patient care, and I hope our efforts can help others benefit from the life-saving treatments I received.鈥
Mr Smalley added: 鈥淲e are honoured to support the Freeman Hospital Heart and Lung Transplant Association. Tony鈥檚 journey has shown us all just how important the work of Freeman Hospital is, and we are committed to doing everything we can to help others who are facing similar challenges.鈥
Young people and older residents in North Tyneside who have collaborated on an art project are set to see their work go on display, thanks to backing from The Banks Group. North Tyneside Living, which offers high quality rented accommodation for tenants aged 60 and over, approached the North Tyneside Learning Trust education charity about getting local schools involved with creating new artworks for communal areas of its portfolio of retirement schemes as part of their refurbishment.
A pilot project was organised where students from Burnside College and Percy Main Primary School met with residents of the Rosebank Hall and Percy Lodge independent living facility in Wallsend to find out more about each other before all going to create new artworks based on the things they鈥檇 talked about.
Following their success, other sessions involving two high schools and three primary schools have been held, with more set to follow involving three other schools. After the North Tyneside Learning Trust secured a 拢1,966 grant from The Banks Group, an exhibition of the work created is set to be staged at Wallsend Library & Customer First Centre in July to give the artists鈥 parents, families and other residents the chance to see what they鈥檝e been creating.
Katrina Moffat, project manager at North Tyneside Learning Trust, said: 鈥淓veryone involved with this project has produced such fantastic work that we wanted to share it with the wider community and we鈥檙e really grateful to the Banks Group for providing the funds we needed to make this happen. We found that the residents and students very quickly became comfortable with each other and had lots of things to talk about, which has resulted in some really interesting work being produced.鈥
Jamilah Hassan, community relations manager at the Banks Group, said: 鈥淭his is a brilliant idea that has produced so much fantastic work, as well as having a much wider positive impact on the local community, and we鈥檙e very pleased to be helping the North Tyneside Learning Trust share it with everyone.鈥
The co-founder of Stockton roofing firm TaperedPlus has been announced as runner-up in the Growth Story category of Goldman Sachs鈥 10,000 Small Businesses Awards. Aman Chahal launched the business with Robert Vass in 2014 after spotting a gap in the market, with a combined personal investment of 拢60,000 and the goal of reaching 拢500,000 in turnover in their first year.
He said the early months were tough, with the co-founders bringing in just 拢17,000 in six months, but the gamble paid off. By the end of the first year, turnover had reached 拢817,000 and it has since grown exponentially, nearly doubling turnover year on year. Last year it secured a 拢5.5m investment from BGF to aid expansion.
He said: 鈥淏eing shortlisted alongside such incredible businesses is an honour in itself, but to be named runner-up for the Growth Story Award is beyond anything I could have imagined. I dedicate this achievement to my parents. Their example of determination, hard work, and perseverance gave me the blueprint for success. I carry that with me every day, and it continues to motivate me.鈥
Mr Chahal previously completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses 海角视频 program, which supports entrepreneurs in creating jobs and driving economic growth by providing management and business training.
Charity CEO Sleepout is set to hold its annual Alnwick event. Launched 11 years ago in Teesside, CEO Sleepout has since raised around 拢5m for approximately 200 causes across Britain helping those at risk 鈥 or who have been made 鈥 homeless.
According to the charity鈥檚 North East regional manager Victoria Wales, people from all walks of life have turned to them for support.
She said: 鈥淲e鈥檝e had CEOs, business owners and people who were once millionaires on the cusp of being made homeless. Once upon time you wouldn鈥檛 think twice about giving your neighbour some sugar, but we are losing that ability to notice those most in need 鈥 and the sad reality is that this could easily be you or a loved one if your circumstances suddenly changed.鈥
Ms Wales and her colleagues will join over 50 people, including Big Brother winner Anthony Hutton, who are already signed up to raise funds at the CEO Sleepout event on May 15, at Lilidorei in Alnwick Gardens,on behalf of Walking with the Wounded.
The event hopes to raise around 拢20,000 on the night.
