March 2009 - NORTHGATE, ALAN TITCHMARSH AND SARAH FERGUSON UNITE TO PUT BREAST CANCER CHARITY ON THE ROAD
A chance appearance on a popular TV programme led to a breast cancer charity being given one year's free use of a van courtesy of Northgate Vehicle Hire, Britain's largest vehicle rental company.
Glennis Hooper and the team at Crazy Hats take delivery of their new Northgate van - wearing crazy hats!
Glennis Hooper, founder and executive fundraiser of the Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, Crazy Hats charity, was invited to talk about the organisation's work on ITV1's 'The Alan Titchmarsh Show'.
Also on the programme was Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, who is running a new project called 'From the Heart', which aims to help local people and organisations.
Launched seven years ago Crazy Hats has so far raised almost £700,000 to support people suffering from breast cancer.
Former breast cancer sufferer Glennis said: "Myself and all the volunteers have had to use our own vehicles to transport a lot of equipment needed for fundraising so to have our own vehicle was always going to be a real practical benefit."
That request came true when the TV programme with help from Sarah Ferguson granted the charity's wish and contacted Northgate to see if the company could help.
Now a Peugeot Partner 600L 1.9D complete with Crazy Hats livery has been handed over to the charity.
Glennis said: "We are tremendously grateful to Northgate for supporting us with the loan of the van for a year. The added publicity that will be generated from the public seeing the liveried van out and about will accelerate our drive towards the £1 million fundraising mark."
Darlington-based Northgate Vehicle Hire operates a fleet of 65,000 vehicles from 80 depots nationwide, including the East Midlands. Managing director Phil Moorhouse said: "Crazy Hats is a fundraising success story and with the use of the van we hope the organisation continues to thrive."
Crazy Hats raises money throughout Northamptonshire for work at the county's two major hospitals in Kettering and Northampton and links with the breast reconstruction team at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
