Staff across Jennings Motor Group have been pulling out all the stops with a final fundraising push for their nominated charity, the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).
Each year, the North East-based motor dealer group pledges its support to a local charity with the aim to raise as much money over the 12-month period.
The group operates Ford, Ford Direct, Kia, Mazda, SEAT and Mitsubishi branches, in addition to two Harley-Davidson® dealerships and a SUBWAY® store.
At the beginning of 2016, the group’s managing director, Nas Khan, and his PA, Bev Stephenson, presented a cheque for the sum of £2,000 to kick-start fundraising for the Great North Air Ambulance Service, which provides air ambulance services across the North of England, including the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria.
The charity, which operates three helicopters, 365 days a year across its bases at Durham Tees Valley Airport and Langwathby, near Penrith, Cumbria, relies on donations and fundraising from local businesses and the general public.
Committed to supporting charities and the local community, Jennings Motor Group’s managing director, Nas said: “We are delighted and immensely proud to have been able to support and work alongside the GNAAS with fundraising over the past 12 months.
“They are an exceptional team of dedicated and committed professionals.”
Throughout the year, on-going fundraising has seen staff taking part in a variety of physical outdoor activities such as sponsored marathons, golfing events and clay pigeon shooting. There has also been a range of other activities taking place across the group’s branch network with staff taking part in bake-offs, raffles, coffee mornings, pie and peas, as well as various other raffles and draws taking place to mark significant events across the year, including Valentine’s, Easter, Halloween and Christmas.
Nas added: “The response from staff has been absolutely wonderful, everyone has done their bit whether it has involved taking part in a physical activity, organising an event at the dealership, or by just making a donation.”
As well as a range of internal fundraising taking place, the motor dealer group also agreed to support the charity’s sixth consecutive car raffle by donating a brand new Kia Rio.
The model worth £10,345, was up for grabs courtesy of the group’s Stockton and Washington-based Kia dealerships.
The winner of the car raffle promotion, which has sold more than 100,000 tickets, is being announced this month.
Grahame Pickering, GNAAS chief executive, said: “The raffle has raised a six figure sum for the charity which is an astonishing amount. We couldn’t have done it without Jennings Motor Group. Nas and his team ought to be proud of what they have achieved it’s likely that lives will be saved as a result of this support.”
In addition to supporting GNAAS, the motor dealer group is also continuing to raise funds for The Emaan Foundation, a registered charity set up by Nas Khan, following the devastating floods that took place in Pakistan in 2010.
Initially, the first phase of fundraising contributed towards providing essential life-saving aid in the aftermath of the disaster, in addition to constructing an entirely new village with livestock and a deep tube well providing clean water for the people of Rahim Yar Khan. Since completion of the village, which has been named The Emaan Village, a second appeal has been launched with the aim to build a new health centre that will provide essential medical treatment for residents.
This year has also seen the motor dealer group support The Salvation Army’s annual Christmas Present Appeal for the 18th consecutive year.
Last year, Jennings Motor Group raised funds for Teesside Hospice, which provides specialist palliative care to people suffering from advanced cancer and other life limiting illness.
For more information about GNAAS, or to make a donation, visit www.greatnorthairambulance.co.uk For information about the range of products and services available at Jennings Motor Group, visit www.jenningsmotorgroup.co.uk