ARMITAGE THANKS CAMPAIGN ON TRACK AS IT BREAKS £100K MARK ON SCHEDULE

Armitage Thanks, Ideal Standard’s fundraising initiative is celebrating after reaching the halfway milestone in their campaign to raise £200K for Bowel Cancer Research and The Smile Foundation, by the end of 2017.

A charity initiative launched to mark the bicentenary of iconic bathroom brand Armitage Shanks has raised over £100,000 in its first year, meaning the campaign is well on track to reach its £200,000 target by the end of 2017.

Launched by Armitage Shanks’ parent company, Ideal Standard, the ‘Armitage Thanks’ initiative marks the run-up to the historic milestone of 200 years in business.

Forty per cent of the cash raised from 2015 to the end of 2017, will be donated to Bowel & Cancer Research, the national charity chosen by its staff. Working with The Smile Foundation, the remaining 60 per cent of the Armitage Thanks fundraising money will be distributed to good causes with a special significance to communities local to the company’s three sites in, Staffordshire, Hull and Newton Aycliffe.

The fundraising events range from sponsoring runners in the Humber half marathon, to walking the three peaks challenge, and even a Bake-Off challenge in Hull and Armitage, with many fun events still set to happen.

Jim Moore, managing director of Ideal Standard, commented;

“Our aim is to help raise money to fund research into devastating diseases nationally, along with supporting our local communities and working with schools to educate and inspire future generations. We’re really proud to be on track with our fundraising and to see that the teams at our three sites have managed to raise an incredible £100,000 for great charities which conduct vital work.”

Deborah Gilbert, Fundraising and Communications officer of Bowel & Cancer Research, said:

“Congratulations to everyone at Armitage Shanks for a tremendous effort in breaking the £100,000 barrier. Your support is already helping us to research new therapies for people with particularly aggressive bowel cancers. Without this funding, this project would not be possible, thank you.”

Sarah Shepherdson, Business Administrator, Of The Smile Foundation, said:

At Smile we pride ourselves in bringing good intentions to life, and the team at Armitage Shanks are making our job easy with their tireless efforts. We are delighted to see them reach the half way stage and we are especially looking forward to utilising their funds and skills to help local communities.

Ideal Standard is also committed to providing hundreds of paid hours over the next year to Armitage Thanks. It will also provide seed funding for all the fundraising activities and operational costs to ensure every penny raised goes direct to charity and local good causes.