25,000 thank you to charity

25,000 thank you to charity

7 January 2015

A DOWNPATRICK man has smashed his fundraising target for Marie Curie.

Colin Reid, chief executive of Belfast tech firm TotalMobile, aimed to raise £20,000 in 2014 but did even better, raising £25,000.

The businessman was keen to help raise funds for the charity in memory of his late sister Geraldine Ritchie and brother-in-law Raymond Newman, both from Downpatrick, who were cared for by Marie Curie nurses.

TotalMobile — which employs around 140 at its Pilot Point base in Belfast — used innovative techniques to engage staff in fundraising, including allowing them to buy an extra day's holiday for £30.

TotalMobile also took part in Business in the Community's "£ for lb challenge" where the company pledged to donate one pound for each pound in body weight shed by staff who had signed up to a company run weight loss scheme.

Money raised at a customer conference and donations from suppliers also helped to exceed the initial target of £20,000 set at the start of last year.

TotalMobile develops innovative software to help healthcare, local government and private industry to increase the quantity and quality of care they provide to patients, with the Downpatrick man at the helm of the business revealing his staff were enthusiastic about supporting Marie Curie.

"There are more than 120 Marie Curie nurses working in Northern Ireland, caring for around 2,000 terminally ill people and their families in their homes each year," he revealed.

"Some of us had close family and friends who experienced the fantastic care they provide and it was important for us to do what we could to support the charity and help them in their quest to raise the £3.5m a year they need to fund their hospices and nursing care in Northern Ireland."

Mr. Reid said he is delighted the £25,000 TotalMobile has raised will fund an extra 1,250 hours of nursing care.

He continued: "Our staff have been tireless in their fundraising efforts all year, from those who ran the Belfast Marathon, climbed Ben Nevis and completed arduous cycling challenges, to those who took part in the more fun initiatives likes Champagne Friday, Movember, TotalFools and pub quizzes.

"We are thrilled to have exceeded our target so thanks to everyone who helped us do it, colleagues, suppliers, customers and many other supporters."

Suzy McIlveen, Partnership Manager at Marie Curie, said the organisation's "heartfelt congratulations and thanks" went to the whole team at TotalMobile. 

"This money allows us to fund a Marie Curie nurse for a whole year and more," she said. The result is testament to the tremendous power of corporate, staff and supplier and client engagement; together engaging in vital and successful fundraising and fun activities.

"As a leader in the field of end of life care, Marie Curie believe it is their responsibility to provide outstanding care and support to people and their families and, furthermore, to strive to improve the overall standard of end of life care available to those with all terminal illnesses."

Suzy added: "Care is provided at the Marie Curie Hospice in Belfast as well as in homes right across Northern Ireland by the Marie Curie Nursing Service."