Parc Menai workers raise cash for Disability Skiing Wales

Oct 29 2008 By Jamie Smith

STAFF at a Parc Menai company have raised well over £2,000 for charity after a year of fundraising.

More than 50 staff at NatWest’s customer services centre at the business park have been busy organising a number of events over the past 12 months raising £2,300 for the charity Disability Skiing Wales.

They have been taking part in a number of activities and had a team in the Menai Strait raft race.

Disability Skiing Wales forms part of the disability sport Wales national development programme which is a joint initiative between the Sports Council for Wales, the Federation of Disability Sport Wales and the 22 local authorities across Wales.

The scheme is aimed at developing quality community based sporting and recreational opportunities for disabled people throughout the country.

Richard Williams of Rhiwlas, is disabled himself and works at the centre. He regularly takes advantage of the services provided by the charity, and is also the deputy chairman for the local branch of the charity.

He said: "We are overwhelmed by the generosity and commitment of the staff in raising these funds on our behalf.

"As a small local charity we are often overlooked in favour of larger organisations, so this has been a real surprise and very welcome donation. to our limited funds.

"On behalf of everyone connected with Disabled Skiing Wales I can only say a huge thank for the staff at Menai Customer Service centre for all they have done for us."

A total of £1,300 was raised for the charity and the bank added a further £1,000 through their community cashback award scheme.

Dave Austin, centre manager for NatWest, said: "It’s easy to underestimate the amount of their own time and effort people put in to innumerable good causes in their own communities.

"Therefore it seems only natural to have a scheme, like the community cashback awards to recognise and assist this contribution and to encourage others to volunteer their services to help people."