Higgins Charity Update
Over recent years, each division of the Group, has, in rotation, chosen a charity for which the whole Group raises money over a twelve-month period. Fund-raising activities have typically included dress down days, raffles, competitions, and a very popular annual hog roast. There has also been one major sponsored event each year. These have taken the form of a gruelling 'Three Peaks Challenge' - scaling Snowdon, Scafell and Ben Nevis in under 24 hours - a long distance cycle ride from Billingham in Cleveland, via York to Hessle Country Park in Yorkshire and a sponsored walk around Clumber Park.
These are some of the organisations which have benefitted from the Higgins Group charity fundraising:
2001: The Richard Foundation, a charity which helped to build and equip a Childrens's Hospice in Yorkshire.
2002: A Third World charity working in Cameroon, Africa, captured the imagination of Higgins Group employees. The money raised enabled the Group to buy and dispatch a supply of good quality seed potatoes from Higgins growers and a 4-wheel drive vehicle to distribute the seed.
2003: Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance service is wholly funded by public donations. The money raised helped towards the £1 million needed annually to keep the helicopter in the skies.
2004: St John's Hospice in Doncaster, which enables terminally ill patients and their families to receive the care and support they need to spend their last days with dignity and without pain.
2007: South Yorkshire Flood Victim Relief Fund.
2008: Doncaster Cancer Detection Trust. Following a number of personal experiences by staff and their families, the decision was made to support this local cancer charity for 2008. A number of fund raising schemes were sprung into action and, a generous donation was made by the year end.
2009: Alzheimer Scotland. Again was a personal choice of the Seed department.
2010: Norfolk and Waveney Big C Cancer Fund.
2011: No dedicated charity was chosen for 2011, giving staff a chance to recharge their fund raising batteries.