Agents Do Charity - summer fundraisers

Welcome to this week’s Agents Do Charity, our chance to salute those who do so much to help others.

If your agency is doing something charitable that we should bring to the attention of the industry, please email press@estateagenttoday.co.uk - and we’ll do the rest!

Michael Day: Industry figure Michael Day is now seven weeks into his Diabetes UK One Million Step Challenge and remains ahead of target having completed 621,015 steps and a distance of 484.63 km. 

This has involved more than 100 hours of walking so far and is the equivalent of walking from London to Hadrian’s Wall.

Day, managing director of Integra Property Services, said “I enjoyed some excellent coverage in the property trade press last week based on achieving the halfway milestone of 500,000 steps and, since then, during the last week, I have passed the milestone of 600,000 steps and continue to push forward towards the one million step goal.

I enjoyed a few days in Porthleven in Cornwall last week (sadly a trip to attend John Buddle (ex ISVA president)’s funeral but it was nice to get some steps in around the harbour and take in some fresh sea air.”

He has raised more than £1,470 so far but is hoping to beat last year’s total of £3,465.

Day added: “Several people have promised me donations and, I know, were waiting to see if I was really going to go through with my plans – the answer is a definite YES and so, if you are able, please donate now!

 “For those of you who haven’t yet donated, I fully appreciate that are lots of demands and requests from all over for lots of good causes but if you could find a way of having a rummage down the back of the sofa or raiding the company accounts – every little helps!

“To those of you that have already donated, I have already personally directly thanked you but do so collectively again here – thank you.”

 You can follow the challenge and donate here: https://step.diabetes.org.uk/fundraising/michael1249

Barratt David Wilson Homes: Developer Barratt David Wilson Homes has donated £1,500 as part of its community fund donation to local Wildwood Trust in Kent.

The unrestricted donation has gone towards the care for one of its bears ‘Boki’, and the repairs to the bridge that overlooks their enclosure.

Wildwood Trust is a native species conservation charity.

With the help of Barratt David Wilson Kent’s donation, the charity has been supporting Boki, one of its rescued bears, after a suspected seizure. The £1,500 has also been used to help repair the bear bridge, which is one of the most popular aspects to the wildlife park, with the visitors able to watch over the bears play in their open space.

Michael Lunn, fundraising manager at Wildwood Trust Kent, said: “The donation from Barratt David Wilson Kent is extremely appreciated by everyone here at Wildwood Trust. Seeing Boki get the medical support he needs has been fantastic and also quite overwhelming. It’s never easy seeing one of our animals we care for poorly, so the outpouring of support we’ve seen for Boki has been really heart-warming.

“Now we are in the summer holidays, making any replacements or repairs is crucial so we can ensure our visitors are safe around the park.

“The £1,500 has really helped with this, especially with helping repair the bear bridge. The bridge is extremely popular amongst our visitors, so it is great that we now can replace it with an updated version thanks to the donation, making sure our visitors have the chance to watch the bears as they enjoy exploring their enclosure and playing in their pond. We look forward to welcoming lots of visitors over the summer and can’t wait for them to see Boki, and our other bears, out in their huge woodland enclosure.

Natalie Perry, sales and marketing director at Barratt David Wilson Kent, added: “The team and I are proud to have helped Wildwood Trust Kent with getting their bear bridge fixed and supporting Boki with any medical attention. It is really inspiring to see how the trust is supporting a range of animals and reintroducing them back into their native areas. Having the chance to support an animal conservation trust is something different for us at Barratt David Wilson Homes and we are glad to see that the donation has already made a difference.”

Manning Stainton: Estate agency Manning Stainton is helping sponsor a Leeds dad who is cycling the length of the UK next month to raise money for children’s charity SNAPS, which supports his eight-year-old son Phoenix.

Manning Stainton are shirt sponsors and have donated £500.
Ben will be completing the mammoth 980-mile journey with his friend Paul Manship, and is hoping to raise £15,000 for SNAPS (Special Needs and Parent Support), which provides support services for children with additional needs of all kinds, and their families.

Phoenix was born 10 weeks premature in 2016 and diagnosed with cerebral palsy. His parents, Ben and Lora, were told about the services SNAPs provided when Phoenix was three, and he started going there for regular rebound therapy and hydrotherapy sessions. He also attends every Saturday to spend time with other children in similar situations, a highlight of his week.

Speaking about the cycle ride, Ben said: “My journey into the world of SNAPS began when my first-born son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a moment that shook our world and filled it with uncertainty and a fear for the future. But it was also a moment that would introduce us to the incredible SNAPS community, a beacon of light in our time of need.
“SNAPS stands as a pillar of strength, compassion, and unwavering support for children with special needs and their families. They provide invaluable services, from physiotherapy sessions and educational resources to a network of parents who understand the unique challenges we face.

“Through the dedication of SNAPS, my son Phoenix, has made remarkable strides in his journey towards a brighter, more inclusive future. Their tireless commitment to helping children like him live their best lives has transformed our family's outlook and given us hope where we once saw only obstacles. If I can raise £15,000 for the charity, it will cover the costs of them providing their services for a month.”

Mark Manning, managing director of Manning Stainton, added: “What Ben and Paul are doing is remarkable, and we’re delighted to be their sponsor. SNAPS is an amazing charity that’s completely self-funded, and it provides services that help transform children’s lives, which is why we are a business hero for the charity and provide year-round support to them.

If you can support Ben and Paul by sponsoring them, please do, as every penny they raise will directly impact the lives of children who need additional support.”

Ben and Paul will be setting off on their journey on the 7 September and finishing it nine days later at John O’Groats, meaning they’ll ride over 100 miles every day. To find out more about Ben’s story or to sponsor him, visit: https://snapsyorkshire.enthuse.com/pf/ben-and-paulsrabride2024