Darlington Building Society is supporting a local couple in their efforts to raise much-needed funds for two charities, close to their hearts.
Every year since 2004, Tracey and John Chad have fundraised for the Butterwick House Children’s Hospice and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Support UK in honour of their son Matthew, who sadly passed away.
So far this year, Tracey and John have raised more than £1000 for the two charities. Each year the couple host two charity tombolas, one for each respected charity and then also a joint raffle, where the funds raised are split between the two charities. The Society has also bolstered this impressive total with an extra £160 donation to be forwarded to each charity, taken from a pot set aside to celebrate the 160th anniversary of its foundation.
Colin Fyfe, Chief Executive of Darlington Building Society, said: “It is an honour to help Tracey and John in their fundraising for two fantastic causes. They work tirelessly every year to make a significant donation to each charity and we felt they deserved our support.
“Tracey has been a member at Darlington Building Society for a long time and we have always donated a prize or two for the raffle but this year to celebrate our 160th birthday we wanted to take it a step further and donate some of our community fund to the charities.”
Tracey Chad, one half of the fundraising couple, said: “Both charities were incredibly supportive during a tough time in both mine and my husband’s life. Butterwick Children’s Hospice gave our son Matthew the chance to go in the sensory room and swimming pool and still remain supportive today. Spinal Muscular Atrophy Support UK never got to meet Matthew but did put us in touch with someone to talk to in our difficult time and they also donate money to support research which hopefully one day will come up with a cure.”
“I am a member at Darlington Building Society and I’m very thankful for all the support they have shown over the past years and especially this year increasing our fundraising efforts”.