Charity payback from workers’ snacks at Russell WBHO sites – thanks to Amaco Vending.
Abigail’s Ambition, the charity set up by a young bone cancer survivor, has received a £1,500 fundraising boost thanks to her dad’s work colleagues.
Contractors working at Russell WBHO projects across Manchester have been contributing to the fund each time they bought a snack from the Amaco Vending machine on site.
Amaco bosses Andy McCutcheon and Garry Hartley delivered the cheque to Leo Frechou, Russell WBHO’s head of environmental and ISO, whose daughter Abigail is fundraising for Bone Cancer Research Trust, the charity which supported her following a diagnosis of Ewing Sarcoma in 2019 age nine.
Staff at Russell WBHO supported Abigail’s Ambition with a £14,000 donation last year following a charity challenge to run 100 miles in a month. A team of six completed the challenge and were sponsored by family, friends, colleagues, contractors, and suppliers, while the company also contributed £3,000 in support.
Dad Leo said the donation was enormously welcome and would bring the family’s overall fundraising total to £25,277.03.
He said: “This donation was so unexpected and it’s absolutely brilliant that the Russells team chose to give it to Abigail’s Ambition. The pandemic has really impacted our ability to raise money for Bone Cancer Research Trust, as many of our plans involved large gatherings, so this cheque is a fabulous boost to Abigail and the charity.
“Abigail also wants me to thank Amaco personally for their support, and every one of my colleagues on site who forgot their lunch or needed a snack and bought something from the vending machine. It’s a great idea that every purchase includes a donation to charity, and we’re so grateful to be the recipients.”
Amaco Vending, which is based in Liverpool and has recently opened a second warehouse in Warrington, works with contractors right across the North West installing vending machines for free and generating revenue through sales. A charitable donation is provided at the end of every contract for workers to give to a good cause of their choice.
Amaco installed machines at three of Russell WBHOs sites in 2020, the 32-storey Oxygen in Store Street, the new hybrid hotel at 3 St Peter’s Square, and the recently opened Premier Inn at Circle Square.
Due to the disruption caused by Covid, the amount raised was below the expected total, so Amaco bosses decided to add a £1,000 themselves after hearing about Abigail’s Ambition.
And managing director Andy McCutcheon is delighted the money is going to such a worthwhile cause.
He said: “We just love the Giving Back element of our business, and it’s so popular with our customers. Since Christmas 2020 we’ve handed over more than £13,000 for customers to give to a wide range of charities, helping everyone from local projects to global causes.
“It gives us great satisfaction to see the money in this case going to Abigail’s Ambition and the Bone Cancer Research Trust, a cause so close to the hearts of everyone at Russells. We’re very proud to do our bit to support this amazing young lady and her family. ”
For more information about the brave young lady behind Abigail’s Ambition click here, or to donate to the fundraising campaign click here.
