Esteem Raises £15k For Samantha Dickson Research Trust
28th April 2005
Following twelve months of charity auctions, coffee mornings, carol singing and raffles, Esteem Systems, one of the UK’s leading IT services providers, has donated £15,000 to The Samantha Dickson Research Trust.
Esteem nominated the Trust as its corporate charity as a result of input from employees and to encourage employees to get involved, Esteem promised to match the funds raised during the 12 months of fund raising activities.
Samantha Dickson died of brain cancer in 1996 aged 16 and the Trust was subsequently set up by her parents to raise both awareness and funds for research into the causes and treatment for brain tumours. In just eight years, the charity has become the largest single funder of laboratory based brain tumour research in the UK, and offers a vital link for patients diagnosed with a brain tumour as well as their families and carers.
Ian and Sylvia Woods, Trustees of the charity, accepted the cheque from Esteem. Ian explained what the donation will mean to the Trust, “Despite the fact that brain tumours are the second most common form of childhood cancer, research in this field is drastically under funded therefore donations like this are extremely important to us. The amount raised is incredible and I hope that it will inspire other businesses to take Esteem’s lead and involve employees in raising money for organisations in need of support for their good work.”
For the next 12 months, Esteem’s employees have selected World Vision as their corporate charity, which is one of the world’s leading relief and development agencies. The charity is also one of more than 250 organisations that have united to form the Make Poverty History coalition and will be campaigning throughout 2005 in an effort to make a difference for the world's poorest and most vulnerable people.
Alastair Kitching, Director of Esteem said: “Charity support is an important part of our commitment to the wider community and since we set up our corporate charity programme three years ago, we’ve raised more than £40,000. The programme is extremely well supported by our employees and it gives everyone the opportunity and the motivation to work together and get involved in activities or projects they might not otherwise encounter.”
If you require any further information, please contact our Press Officer on 01937 861000 or e-mail on press@esteem.co.uk
