Perspective staff compete to win £4,500 for Five Charities

Teams competed across three events:

The Adrenalin Junkies undertook bungee runs, axe throwing, laser clays and archery. The winning team, captained by Sam Smith our Group Acquisitions Director, comprised William Male, Steven Leech, Martin Pearce, Lindsey Pepperell-Wood, Simon Coward and Ron Marrs.

They split their donation across two charities to whom the Group has donated £750 each:

Moorfields Eye Charity

Moorfields Eye Charity: The staff member who nominated this charity said: “My brother has a thankfully very rare condition called autosomal bilateral optic atrophy which means his eyesight has been deteriorating since his late teens. He is now classed as visually impaired and has no colour vision at all. The pioneering research that charities like Moorfields Eye Charity do will one day hopefully help people who suffer from that condition and many others.”

In reply, Moorfields Eye Charity said: “We are very grateful that you’ve chosen us as the beneficiary of your company’s charity competition. It means a great deal when the family and friends of a patient choose to support us. Your contribution will truly make an impact in our search to find new treatments at Moorfields for patients like your brother.”

Muscular Dystrophy UK

Muscular Dystrophy UK: The staff member who nominated this charity said: “My family has the genetic markers for Muscular Dystrophy which is a progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass that most commonly affects boys, of which many boys born with the disease do not make it to adulthood.

“I grew up from an early age being tested for the genetic markers which my family have going back generations. Growing up, many friends had the condition or variations of it. There were fun times such as having electric wheelchair races and getting involved in the local carnival to raise money, but there were also very sad times when some of those friends passed away, without reaching adulthood.

“I have always done what I can to support this charity even after having numerous tests from a being young girl to early adulthood at Liverpool Alder Hey Hospital, to find out that a small miracle had occurred. I am the first in my family to not have the genetic markers that carry Muscular Dystrophy.

“I had my son in 2012 who is the first boy born in the family as far back as our family history records, who does not have the condition. I am thankful for the little miracle I was gifted with and will always support the charity to try and help those who have not been so lucky.”

For over 50 years, Muscular Dystrophy UK has supported people living with muscle-weakening and wasting conditions. There are more than 60 rare and very rare types of this progressive condition, affecting around 110,000 children and adults in the UK.

They fund high-quality research to find effective treatments and cures and campaign to get faster access to emerging treatment for families, as well as providing a range of services and resources to help people live as independently as possible.

The Crystal Maze challenge was won by a team captained by Dan Stokoe, Head of the Perspective Academy and Office Principal for the North West. His team mates were Jamie Taylor, Sunil Karia, Kate Quarmby, Jon Hills and Martin White. Their chosen charity to whom the Group donated £1,500 is:

Milly’s Smiles

Milly’s Smiles: The staff member who nominated Milly’s Smiles said: “My sister & her partner really appreciated receiving a Milly’s Bag when my nephew was first admitted into hospital. It definitely put a smile on their faces at a really tough time.”

Milly’s Bags are provided free of charge to every newly diagnosed family admitted onto Ward 84 at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Ward 3B at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool and Ward L31 at Leeds Children’s Hospital.

The bags contain items that will help during the first few days, and weeks, of a child’s and their parents’ hospital stay. Along with this, Milly’s Smiles provide items that will bring a smile to the faces of the children, and let families know that people are thinking about them.

Simply put, Milly’s Smiles like to make parents feel as though they have been given a hug, and that people really do understand and genuinely care.

The Golfers had a testing time on one of Carden Park’s two championship courses, but our CEO Ian Wilkinson and his team prevailed after a tight contest fought right up until the final hole. The victory went to Ian, Sam Wright and Ian Cunningham.

They also split their donation across two charities to whom the Group has donated £750 each. Both are long standing charities in the North East:

Projects with Pride – NE Youth

NE Youth: Perspective is sponsoring NE Youth’s annual Projects With Pride Awards on 2nd November 2022 in Newcastle upon Tyne. With 11 categories and 350 young people attending, this is a big event in the charity’s calendar. The event celebrates and recognises the amazing achievements of young people, staff and volunteers across the North East.

Set up almost 90 years ago, the charity has supported thousands of young people cope with tough and challenging childhoods, many of whom have gone on to achieve great things in the region and beyond.

Pathways 4 All North East Disabled Children’s Charity

Pathways4all: The directors of our office in Newcastle upon Tyne have personally supported this charity over many years through attending balls and bidding generously for auction prizes.

Pathways4All is a parent-led charity, providing play and leisure services for disabled children and young people. It supports hundreds of disabled children/young people and their families from across Tyne & Wear, Northumberland and Country Durham.

As knowledge of the charity has increased, so has its reach, with families from both Cumbria and Teesside accessing its services.

Many of the services are delivered at the amazing Tim Lamb Centre, a specialist play and leisure provision, situated in the picturesque surroundings of the Rising Sun Country Park in Benton. Facilities include soft play, indoor trampolines, sensory room, ICT suite, café and more.  The Centre also benefits from a fully enclosed play-garden, which includes a range of inclusive play and sensory equipment.

“This is a fantastic centre for children and young people with disabilities, and their families and friends. It’s run by dedicated, lovely people who can’t do enough to make sure there is plenty to entertain the children.”   Kerry Mo, parent of a disabled child.