Garage and industrial door manufacturer Hörmann is hoping to raise over £30,000 for Alzheimer’s Society, after agreeing a partnership with the charity to run throughout 2015.
The company will be taking part in a variety of challenges over the next 12 months in a bid to raise the funds, from karaoke and bake-off style events to the physically intense Farmageddon Run. Hörmann’s UK-wide dealer network will also be given the opportunity to promote the partnership through a sales initiative scheduled for later in the year.
Alzheimer’s Society provides support and advice to people living with all forms of dementia, as well as their families and carers. The charity also campaigns for the rights of people with dementia and funds vital research into the condition.
Currently incurable, dementia is the biggest killer of women and the third biggest killer of men in the UK. The condition affects around 44% of the population in some way, potentially impacting nearly half of Hörmann’s staff, network and customers.
The cause is also close to the heart of managing director David Newcombe, whose late father had vascular dementia.
David said: “Through my own experience, I’ve seen what a cruel condition dementia is, so I can personally appreciate the importance of Alzheimer’s Society’s work. I know I’m not alone in this and after learning about the sheer scale of dementia’s impact in the UK, we were keen as a company to offer our support to the charity.
“We’re busy putting plans in place for a variety of activities and challenges over the course of the year. Some will be quite humorous while others will be physically and mentally tough.”
In addition to raising funds for the charity, Hörmann will also run sessions for any of its staff who wish to become Dementia Friends. A national initiative, Dementia Friends is funded by the Cabinet Office and Department of Health for England, and run by Alzheimer’s Society. It teaches people what it is like to live with the condition and how small actions can help, such as being patient at a check out if someone is taking a while to pay.
Ray Nash, senior regional corporate fundraising executive at Alzheimer’s Society, commented: “Partnerships with organisations like Hörmann are essential in continuing our fight against dementia and supporting all those affected by it. With their help, we can assist people living with dementia today to have the best possible quality of life, whilst searching for a cure for the future. We’re incredibly excited for the year ahead.”
With staff keen to kick-start the partnership, Hörmann began fundraising in December, auctioning a selection of Christmas hampers and securing around £150 for the charity. More details of Hörmann’s fundraising activities and dealer initiative will be announced in the coming weeks.
