When a team member proposed a charity fundraising day at the Skipton International offices in aid of Bulstrode House, colleagues rallied in support.
Sue Sheppard wanted to thank the Oncology Unit for their care during her battle with bowel cancer. The Account Administrator, who has been with Skipton International since it was incorporated, returned to work in September after two operations to successfully remove the tumour.
She said: “Bulstrode House has been fantastic during my treatment and recovery and I wanted to do something to thank them. After speaking with my colleague, Nicola Green (Assistant Manager Finance & IT), we went to Jim Coupe (Managing Director) with the idea of a fundraising day and he was happy for Skipton International to help. I was still off work recovering from both operations so Nicola did most of the organising.
“We held a cake sale, raffles, and various competitions such as guess the number of sweets in a jar and identifying staff from baby photos. Skipton helped with the purchase of some raffle prizes.
“Skipton International has been very supportive during my illness and my colleagues were all behind me. I hoped that we might raise a few hundred pounds but was overwhelmed we managed to raise so much.”
Jim Coupe, Managing Director, Skipton International, said: “We were all so pleased with Sue’s recovery and the help she received from Bulstode House that we wanted to help her give something back, and we were delighted to help Sue raise such a good sum of money. We are always happy to help get behind good causes like this that have personal significance to our team members.”
Skipton International supports a range of charities in Guernsey, notably through sponsorship of the Swimarathon, the island’s largest community fundraising event, and the Arts Festival. Recent donations include to Winter Wonderland, the Guernsey Football Festival, Donkey Derby, Les Bourgs Hospice, and Epilepsy Awareness.
In addition, Skipton supports individual members of staff with personal charity work and voluntary events, for example, during the Island Games last year, Skipton gave Commercial Manager Aaron Walden, who plays basketball for Guernsey, a week’s paid leave to represent the island.