SCS's high-speed fund raising for Riders
30 April 2010
Over the last two years Strategic Communications Services Ltd (SCS) have raised an amazing £6,500 for Riders for Health through their support for racers in the high-speed Vee Festival racing series at Brands Hatch.
SCS’s sponsorship at the Vee Festival means each driver is linked to a charity and each of the races is named after one of four charities who support either children’s causes or aid to sub-Saharan Africa. The charities receive £3,000 for their race and, in addition, the overall winner nominates one of charities to receive an additional £2,000.
The aim of SCS is to use their race sponsorship to gain publicity for Riders for Health and the other charities, as well as raising money to support their work.
Tony Chambers, Director of SCS, explains why the company picked Riders for Health as one of the four charities, ‘I got to know about Riders through attending the MotoGP and Grand Prix for many years. When Daryl Start and I took the decision to donate part of the company’s profit each year, we wanted to support a few organisations that enable others to make a difference. Our sponsorship with the Vee Festival has provided the opportunity to raise awareness without needlessly spending money that the charities could use far better.’
‘We also wanted to build an ongoing relationship with the charities we were supporting. We chose Riders because they provide direct help to people in Africa and they are part of the motorcycling and motorsport community.’
Riders is using the money donated by SCS to keep six carers in Kenya on the road. The carers supported by SCS are all from grassroots community based organisations that provide care and advice to families in remote communities.
Being mobile has a huge impact on the work of carers and the people they look after, explains Rosemary, whose own work has been transformed, ‘When I first received my motorcycle, I visited a very sick man late at night. He had nobody close to him to help him and care for him. Thanks to the motorcycle I was able to visit him regularly and now he is well.’
By making sure that replacement parts and fuel are always available, SCS are ensuring the six motorcycles never break down and carers like Rosemary can reach up to four times as many families.
‘SCS have come up with a really fantastic way of supporting our work, and we are very grateful for everything they have done for us over the past two years,’ said Riders’ fundraising officer Astrid Jenkinson. ‘I was lucky enough to attend the Vee Festival last year and witness the commitment of the team at SCS. It was a great day and they are making a huge difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable families in Kenya.’
If you would like to find out more about how your company could support the work of Riders for Health you can contact Astrid Jenkinson at ajenkinson@riders.org or on 01604 889 570.