Staff at kitchen component supplier Hill’s Panel Products (HPP) have completed several fund-raising events to raise money for a local youth support charity.
The money raised from the events was collected in support of Mahdlo Youth Zone, an organisation dedicated to supporting young people in Oldham aged between eight to 19 years, and disabled people aged up to 25.
Fourteen HPP employees completed the Three Peaks of Saddleworth trek and raised £1,250 for completing the walk.
One of the volunteers was HPP’s marketing and business development director Dan Mounsey. Instead of simply walking the 15-mile route, Mounsey ran the trail twice and was joined on his first lap by systems developer Michael Stevens.
Mounsey, described as a keen endurance runner, said: “It was great to have Michael’s company on the first lap. Having someone to chat to really helps to eat up the miles. I got a touch of cramp on the second lap, but otherwise it went very well, and I was able to catch up with the rest of the HPP team so we could pretty much all finish together.”
A second group of HPP employees took part in an 18-hole golf day at Saddleworth Golf Club, in a team comprised of Stuart Chamberlain, Gary Kinder, Shaun Nolan and Phil Eaton.
Chamberlain – who also took part in the Three Peaks trek – said: “I believe 92 points won the competition. We had a team score of 79, so quite a bit off the pace. Not a great day for golf but well done for all those who battled through and played for the good cause which raised over £5,000. Well worth the drenching to prepare for the charity walk the day after!”
To celebrate its fund-raising success, staff from HPP then held a celebratory football tournament with members of Mahdlo Youth Zone. The final score was 5-2 in favour of Mahdlo’s team, which prompted the charity’s fund-raising manager to add: “HPP helped make it a night to remember for Mahdlo and it was extra special to have them there to share in their success. I caught up with a few of them at the end of the night and they were honestly on cloud nine, pride was oozing out of them, and their smiles were so infectious.”
These latest fund-raising events form part of a year-long fundraising campaign in support of the youth charity. When Mahdlo Youth Zone first opened in 2012, HPP was one of its founding patrons, and it continues to offer its support to this day.
The manufacturer reportedly raised over £1.3 million for Mahdlo last year. HPP is hoping to surpass last year’s charity efforts, and has set an ambitious fund-raising target of £1.7 million, which it hopes will reach over 3,500 young people across Oldham.