A CELEBRATION of a year of fund-raising at Evesham firm Buzz Electrical led to cheques totalling £4,468 being handed over two leading diabetes charities.
Staff at the Abbey Lane company welcomed representatives from Diabetes UK and the world’s leading Type 1 diabetes research charity JDRF for a networking event last Wednesday (January 22).
In the last 12 months, during their 20th year in business, Buzz Electrical has raised awareness and funds for research into the prevention of diabetes through events including a charity football match, where their team of electricians took on a local team, and a charity ball for 100 guests at the Wood Norton Hotel.
Both Diabetes UK and JDRF were presented with their cheques by Worcester Warriors and England player Chris Pennell, a Type 1 diabetic since the age of ten who has still secured a successful career in the sport he loves.
Worcester Warriors community manager Steve Joslin, Steve Owens, MD at Buzz Electrical, Siobhan Clifford of Diabetes UK and JDRF’s regional fundraiser Bernie Carranza were all in attendance at the event.
“Supporting the charities has been important to us because more people than ever have diabetes, and more people than ever are at risk of Type 2 diabetes,” said Mr Owens.
“If nothing changes, more than five million people will have diabetes in the UK by 2025.
“I’m so pleased Buzz has raised vital funds and generated awareness for the national diabetes charities, who do such fantastic work into supporting people with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, as well as much needed and important research – which we hope one day they will find a cure for.”
The fund-raising events throughout Buzz Electrical’s 20th anniversary year were organised by director Sue Owens and marketing manager Lucy Biltcliffe.
“We were thrilled to receive this wonderful donation from Buzz Electrical as part of their year of fund-raising,” Mrs Carranza said.
“There are currently 400,000 people in the UK with Type 1 diabetes, with more than 29,000 of them being children.
“We will use this generous donation to support life-changing research into the cure, treatment and prevention of Type 1 diabetes.”
Ms Clifford, Diabetes UK West Midlands fund-raiser, said: “We’re really grateful to Buzz Electrical for supporting our work to fund ground-breaking research, care services and campaigns that can change the lives of those living with diabetes. Every penny raised will help us to support the millions of people living with diabetes in the UK.”
