By William Coleman
A kind-hearted fundraising initiative by caravan and motorhome specialists Caravan Guard, and Leisuredays, has raised more than £110,000 for Heart Research UK.
Ten years ago, Caravan Guard launched its Paperless Policies initiative, which sees them donate £1 to the charity each time a new caravan, campervan or motorhome insurance customer opts for their policy documents to be emailed rather than posted out.
Throughout 2019, Caravan Guard’s Paperless Policies campaign and other fundraising efforts raised a hearty £17,645, pushing the total gifted in the last decade to an incredible £110,887!
The caring staff at Caravan Guard don’t just promote the paperless policies, they also go extra miles for the charity by taking on challenges such as the Great North Run half marathon and running healthy heart events.
A “love yourself” event saw the charity deliver health and lifestyle checks and staff were encouraged to make 2020 the year to care completely about their health, as well as others.
Many are already sharing healthy recipe ideas and signing up for a range of challenges, as well as inspiring each other to lead healthy lifestyles.
Associate Director Laura Wilby presented Heart Research UK with a cheque for £17,645 during the Halifax-based company’s healthy heart day.
“We’re delighted to have raised so much money for such a great cause in 2019 and absolutely thrilled to have smashed through the £100,000 mark in the last decade,” said Laura. “A big thank you to our customers too, who have chosen to go paperless so we can pass on all this money to help with the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.”
Caravan Guard cares passionately about many local and national charities to help them make a difference to the lives of others. Two runners also raised £2,283 for Heart Research UK last year after finishing the 2019 Great North Run half marathon in record times, and the company’s Great Yorkshire Bike Ride team added more donations into the fundraising pot.
The money raised in 2019 could potentially help pay for scientists to develop a new blood test to identify high-risk patients after treatment for a heart attack or contribute towards new MRI techniques to examine heart muscle structure.
Heart Research UK CEO, Kate Bratt-Farrar, said: “Over the last 10 years, we have been blown away time and again with the generosity of the Caravan Guard customers and staff. To have raised over £110,000 is a truly remarkable achievement, and we can’t thank them enough.
“The money that Caravan Guard has raised will be used to benefit patients as soon as possible, funding life-saving research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.”
Caravan Guard’s contact centre staff will continue to encourage more customers to receive paperless insurance policies so they can help even more hearts in the next decade!
