News

Harvester Makes Wishes Come True

December 2007

We are proud to announce that we have raised an incredible £33,500 in 2007 for our nominated charity, Make-A-Wish Foundation UK.

The money has been raised by Harvesters across Britain following the launch of our dedicated month of fundraising in May. The total represents an amazing increase of 68 percent from what we raised last year and means that we have raised enough money for 11 wishes to be granted – one for each of our regional districts.

We are proud of the amazing effort that everyone has made across Harvester. We had set ourselves the target of smashing last year's effort and we more than exceeded this. Everyone got into the spirit of things raising the money through a wide variety of activities including:

Simon, at the Croxley Green restaurant, in Rickmansworth, put himself through months of gruelling training to complete the Great North Run and raised an incredible £500 all by himself.
The fantastic effort by the team at the Black Lion in Patcham, topping the fundraising table by generating almost £4000, raising more than enough money for an entire wish to be granted.
The Harvester Balloon Launch, which saw the winning balloon travel all they way from the Stanney Oaks Harvester in Cheshire across the English Channel and over Europe before landing in a field in Bavaria, Germany.
Our 'Celebrity Server' events saw players from local sports clubs such as the Llanelli Scarlets Rugby Club, the Kent Spitfires Cricket Club, and two mascots from Rochdale FC, come down to their local Harvester to work as waiters for a couple of hours!

We would like to say a big thanks to all those who contributed including the team members who gave up their time and especially to our guests who kindly supported us and Make-A-Wish, helping to generate such a fantastic total. Hopefully, in 2008 we can be even more successful and raise more for the charity.

Karen England, head of fundraising at Make-A-Wish, had these kind words of thanks for all those who got involved.

"We are delighted with the work that Harvester has done this year. Not only has it raised much needed funds that will add magic to the lives of special children, but they have also helped to increase awareness of our work across the country. We are looking forward to working together once again in 2008."

About Make-A-Wish:

Make-A-Wish is the leading wishgranting charity with one simple aim – to turn the wishes of children and young people aged 3 to 17 living with life-threatening illness into reality. For more information on the charity visit www.make-a-wish.org.uk.