The KM Group provided support to the community
to the value of £2.6m during 2008.
Figures released by the media group’s in-house
charity team, based at Wraik Hill show just how far a myriad of
fund-raising activities has gone into making a difference to some
of Kent’s most deserving causes.
From adrenalin-filled abseil and zip wire
events to the series of brain-teasing KM Big Quiz nights, through
to sponsorship of the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards, the money
has been raised to support causes that matter to the people of
Kent.
And it is not just cash, directly made from
events, that has helped our charities. They have told us
that, by linking up with the KM Group, they have enjoyed growth
from the publicity generated by extensive press coverage, which has
encouraged donations.
Kent’s favourite charities, such as the
Pilgrims Hospice, Kent Air Ambulance, the Heart of Kent hospice and
children’s road safety charity Kent Walking Bus, have all benefited
from the massive fund-raising effort.
Some of the highlights of the fund-raising in
2008 include:
· The Canterbury KM Big Quiz, which
brought in more than £10,000 for charity, money shared between the
city’s RSPCA branch, the League of Friends of Kent and Canterbury
Hospital and Kent Walking Bus
· The North West Kent College, Dartford
abseil, which raised £11,000 to boost the Darenth Valley Hospital’s
Lollipop Appeal
· Maidstone’s Fremlin Walk abseil which
also raised £11,000, with the cash going to the Heart of Kent
Hospice.
· Medway readers taking part in a high
wire challenge at Chatham’s Historic Dockyard raised almost £2,000
for the children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent,
· Thanet readers hurtled down cliffs in
Ramsgate’s Screaming Alley abseil to put another £7,000 in CLIC
Sargent’s coffers.
· Zip wire daredevils at Folkestone
racecourse whizzed down from the main stand and onto the course
itself to bring in a winning total of more than £12,000 for
charity, with Pilgrims Hospices receiving a big dividend
· Press coverage encouraged caring
readers of the Dartford and Gravesend Messenger titles to take part
in huge numbers in the Every one Counts campaign, asking those in
the district to donate just £1 to help the Ellenor Lions Hospice
reach its fund-raising target of £200,000. The hospice is now at
the half-way mark and has £100,000 to support its vital work.
Across KM Group publications in 2008,
newspaper space has been given over to promote charity events,
valued at nearly £2.19m.
Simon Dolby, manager of the KM Charity Team,
said: “The £2.6m figure is phenomenal and represents a huge effort
from KM Group readers, our staff and the KM Group as a whole. The
sums being raised are truly life-changing. The KM Group is proud to
be the catalyst of this community action.”
(May 11, 2009)