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Rainy Day Trust’s 175th fundraising efforts going strong!


T


his year is the 175th anniversary of the industry’s charity, the Rainy Day Trust, and people throughout the home improvement industry have been encouraged to be part of the #challenge175 fundraising initiative.


So far there have been some incredible achievements on both sides of the supply chain – from the garden centre industry to housewares and DIY to builders’ merchants.


The whole idea is for 175 people to raise £175 each for the charity in its 175th year. One of the first to sign up was Joseph Joseph territory manager Henry Thomson


whose aim was to run 5k every day for 175 days in a row. Unfortunately, Henry had to pull out due to injury but not before he had completed an amazing 71 days at 5km a day.


Rainy Day Trust’s own CEO Bryan Clover kicked off the campaign with Dry January and raised an incredible £5,400 including Gift Aid. Bryan certainly leads by example as in October he will be attempting to complete the ‘175 miles in 7 days’ Rainy Day Ramble –


25 miles a day around Cornwall. Fundraising has already started for that and you can sponsor Bryan at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rainydayramble.


Other fundraising feats include three individuals from Decco raising over £3,500 between them – Keith Willey and two friends hiking 100 miles in five days across Exmoor; Andrew Ballentine, manager of the Leeds distribution centre completing the Loctite hanging man challenge (stuck to a panel and hung upside down!) and Chief Operating Officer Charlie Lacey ran the Bristol 10k.


Bryan said the charity has been delighted at the response to the initiative. “Henry at


Joseph Joseph was one of the first to get his fundraising started and we have had a steady stream of people sign up and say they’re ready for the challenge. Not everyone has completed theirs yet and if you haven’t signed up at all, there is definitely still time!


“More than 175 people can take part of course, and also people can raise as much as


they like over the £175. Ideas to think about can be anything from hosting a coffee morning and cycling to work instead of driving to climbing a mountain or running a marathon,” said Bryan. To help out more directly, some companies have made a straight donation of £175, and the Roll of Honour can be seen on the Rainy Day Trust website.


Since its creation in 1843, the Rainy Day Trust has been providing invaluable help to thousands of people. Helping young and old alike, the Trust supports apprentices through their training as well as giving retired employees from the home improvement industry that little extra that they need to face retirement with dignity. Never judgemental, the Rainy Day Trust can help you, whether you've worked for a builder's merchant, a DIY outlet, a garden centre or even selling cookware or crockery. As a friend once said "Help now, hope for the future".


To sign up for #challenge175, contact the Rainy Day Trust on info@rainydaytrust.org.uk.


u0121 237 1132 uwww.rainydaytrust.org.uk .


GCU July/August 2018 www.gardencentreupdate.com | 23


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