News

A CHARITY that helps save lives by transporting vital medical supplies to doctors and hospitals around the county is £5,000 better off thanks to this year’s Cash For Your Community giveaway.

Shropshire and Staffordshire Blood Bikes was the biggest beneficiary of this year’s £20,000 giveaway, organised once more by the Shropshire Star and our partners at Enterprise Flex-E-Rent.

A total of £20,000 was dished out to good causes across Shropshire and Mid Wales, with the money being shared between 30 groups ranging from children’s charities to groups that support the elderly. Many of the groups took part for the first time this year.

The money was allocated according to which groups could collect the most tokens that had been printed in the Shropshire Star.
Volunteers

The Blood Bikes, a team of volunteers who give up their time to deliver life-saving blood and other medical supplies by motorcycle, collected the £5,000 top prize after collecting a superb 8,411 tokens.

The charity, which was formed four years ago, will use the money to improve its coverage of North Shropshire by setting up a base at a fire station. The money will be used to provide a secure shed to keep a bike.

Fundraising manager Lynne Stone said: “We receive no funding for the service we operate for NHS trusts in Shropshire, Staffordshire and south Cheshire.

“We help the NHS save lives, money and improve the quality of life of poorly patients. We deliver urgent medical samples such as blood, platelets, and frozen breast milk free of charge between hospitals and pathology labs on motorbikes ridden by our advanced qualified riders and managed by our controllers.”

In second place was The Severn Centre Trust, which will use its £2,000 windfall for the latest phase in the restoration of the open-air swimming pool at Highley.

Duty manager Jody Pietragallo said the cash would help turn the old “learner pool”, which has not been used for many years, into a modern “splash pad” for young children.

Mrs Pietragallo said the money would make a huge difference to younger children in the village.

“The splash pad enables children to build confidence with water and enjoy a day out with family locally,” she said.

The Harry Johnson Trust, which came third, received £1,000, which will be used to provide support for children being treated for cancer and their families

In fourth place was Telford & Wrekin Parkinsons Support Group, which took £940.77 which it will use to provide life-saving physiotherapy and speech therapy.

“It will make a huge difference as it will alleviate the worry of paying for the physio and speech therapy,” said secretary Carol Scott. In fifth place came Guide Dogs for the Blind Shrewsbury, which received a shade under £800. Fundraising organiser Penny Norris said it would be a major help, as a partially-sighted person typically has to wait more than two years for a dog.

Hope House Children’s Hospices received £765.03, which it will use to provide support for the families of children who die suddenly.

Area fundraiser Lynsey Kilvert said the money was crucial as, tragically, the charity could only afford to help one in three families in this way.

The Shifnal and Albrighton Live at Home scheme received a cheque for £734.78 which it will use to create a new weekly chair-based exercise class for the elderly.
Ludlow and District Beekeeper’s Association received £706.85.

The registered charity has recently secured the lease on a building which will be used for the breeding of native honey bees, and also in educating people about their importance.
Willey Cricket Club, which took third place last year, took £646.21, while Wellington Cottage Care Trust, which came second last year, took £632.94 this time around.

Shropshire Star editor Martin Wright said he was delighted that so many groups were once more able to benefit from the scheme. He said: “Once more it highlights the fantastic work people do in our community.

“The efforts that people have gone to in order to collect the tokens and help their chosen charities is also heartwarming.
“It just goes to show the strength of community spirit in our county.

“I truly hope this money will make a real difference to the excellent work
these groups do.”

Danny Glynn, managing director of Enterprise Flex-E-Rent, said the company prides itself on building close links within the communities it operates in.

“It is our absolute pleasure and privilege to once again support local groups through the Cash For Your Community initiative in conjunction with our friends at the Shropshire Star,” he said.

“It is always exciting to discuss future plans with each year’s charities and good causes at the presentation day, and fantastic to see the work they have done with their well-deserved winnings in the following months.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the groups who submitted applications this year and also thank all of those who collected tokens for their chosen cause.
“It is inspirational to see the work that is done on our doorstep by so many of you.”

How the cash is shared
Shropshire and Staffordshire Blood Bikes £5,000.
The Severn Centre Trust Ltd £2,000.
The Harry Johnson Trust £1,000.
Telford & Wrekin Parkinsons Support Group £940.77
Guide Dogs Shrewsbury £797.58
Hope House Children’s Hospices £765.03
Shifnal and Albrighton Live at Home £734.78
Ludlow & District Beekeepers Association £706.85
Willey Cricket Club £646.21
Wellington Cottage Care Trust £632.94
Cuan Wildlife Rescue £615.04
The Friendly Transport Service £586.81
Severn Hospice £542.83
Motor Neurone Disease Association Shropshire Branch £519.53
Diabetes UK Shrewsbury Kids Group £451.02
RABI £443.92
The Movement Centre £415.53
Anstice Community Trust £413.68
Our Heroes (The Plough Inn, Wellington) £393.31
The Walled Garden Project at Nursery Fields £385.44
1st Monkmoor Scout Group £268.33
The Little Theatre Donnington £254.91
Shropshire Disability Network £230.68
Sport and Arts in the Community (Sparc) £219.26
Bright Star Boxing Academy £216.18
The Living Room At Woodside £202.44
Broseley Youth Club £189.48
South Shropshire Gymnastics Club £181.30
Brownlow Community Centre £158.78
Stay £87.33