Flame Heating Group’s fourth annual racenight proved a big winner for a North East cancer charity after raising an estimated £8,000.
Saras Hope Foundation is being supported by the heating and plumbing merchant as its nominated charity for 2019 and was the beneficiary of the Flame The Heat Is on Racenight at Newcastle Racecourse.
Flame has already hosted several other fundraising events in aid of the Foundation, including a charity football tournament held in May.
The amount raised – which includes match funding from HSBC and Barclays – could yet rise with additional donations.
Since 2016, Flame has now raised in excess of £33,000 for good causes throughout the North East. Last year’s nominated charity was Fighting All Cancers Together (F.A.C.T.)
Former Heart breakfast show host Justin Lockwood compared the racenight which was attended by 230guests, including Flame suppliers, customers and staff.
As well as cheering on the evening’s seven races – which began with the Flame Handicap Stakes – the popular event also included a charity raffle and auction.
John Savage, Managing Director of Flame Heating Group, also did his bit to swell the charity’s coffers by auctioning his services for a day. The winning bid, an impressive £400!
Saras Hope Foundation was established in 2007 by Ged and Julie Hoburn in memory of daughter Sara who died at the age of 16 in 2001 following a two-year-battle with a rare and aggressive form of colon cancer.
It offers respite for children and young people diagnosed with the disease, including fully funded holidays to create lasting memories with loved ones.
So far this year, it has sent 15 families to the charity’s holiday retreat in Crete and has already received 10 referrals for 2020.
Jim Raper, the charity’s Acting Chairman, said: “We rely on organisations, such as Flame Group, to support the valuable work we do through their generous fundraising.
“I’d like to thank John Savage and all those who attended for their continued support and for making it possible to bring even more sunshine into the lives of these very deserving children and their families.”
John Savage said: “Our racenight has become a major part of our social calendar and provides an opportunity to show our appreciation to colleagues, customers and suppliers whilst supporting such great North East causes as Saras Hope Foundation.
“The evening itself was a fantastic success and I’d like to thank everyone for being so generous in aid of such an inspirational cause.
“I’m also delighted that one bidder saw fit to pay £400 to secure my services for a day as part of the charity auction.
“I must admit, I’m a little apprehensive about what I might be asked to do as, given I’m largely office-based, a spot of hard manual labour might come as a shock to the system – but I’m definitely up for any challenge!”