CUK Charity Newsletter - August & September 2023 Wrap-Up

CLAAS UK

Charity Newsletter

CLAAS UK and it’s entire dealer network is full of thoughtful and caring individuals, many of whom have committed time and effort into helping others. This monthly newsletter is to provide you with updates on the months charity stories and celebrating those who contribute, as well as information on how you can get stuck in yourself.

Read on to discover what the network has been up to!

Dealer news

CLAAS Western Charity Fundraising

CLAAS Western have had a busy September fundraising for CLAAS’ nominated charity, Children with Cancer UK.

On 2nd & 3rd September, CLAAS Western Dorchester participated in the Dorchester Show. Here they filled a tractor with 146 balloons and charged £2 a go for people to guess how many balloons were in the tractor, with whoever guessed correctly (or the closest guess) winning a radio controlled combine. This raised a total of £430!

The lucky winner of this combine was Jacob, who had a great guess of 148!

CLAAS Western Frome also participated in the Frome Show on 9th September, also filling a tractor with balloons for the day. This raised a further £147!

A huge well done and thank you to CLAAS Western for raising a total of £577 for Children with Cancer UK.

If you would like to run this event at one of your local shows please get in touch with your charity committee representatives.

What’s

CLAAS UK

Sarah Hiscox, Natasha Murray, Lynn Chilvers, Hayley Lucas, Claire Brown

MANNS

Laura Madine. Chelsea Rednall

WESTERN

Steve McCahill, James Russell Alex Southgate

EASTERN

Guy Willey, Robert Hosdell

been going on?

Have an idea for a charity event? Looking for support to help raise money? Want to get more involved?

If you have an idea for a charity event or are looking for support to help raise more sponsorship money for an event you are running or participating in please inform the CLAAS Charity Committee. We can provide support, help with providing resources and help you with your fundraising. We are also always open to hearing ideas from everyone on what CLAAS could do to help charities.

In July’s newsletter we shared the story behind Paula Brooks’ (Business Administrator, WESTERN Frome) upcoming charity hike. On 9th September 2023, Paula completed her Jurassic Coast Mighty Hike in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, raising £250!

We caught up with Paula to hear about her experience.

“What can I say, I did it. My first Mighty Hike, 26.5 miles along one of the hilliest coast lines in England, and on the hottest day of the year. So many lovely people, with stories to tell. Nearly sick a couple of times, blisters and a craving for ready salted crisps.

As hard as it was, all I thought about was that this is nothing compared to what people touched by cancer have to go through. I have already booked myself in for 4 more hikes and an ultra-marathon for next year (so far). So watch this space.”

A huge well done to Paula for completing the hike and raising money for such a deserving charity. We look forward to sharing about Paula’s future hikes.

Paula Brooks

Jurassic Coast Mighty Hike for Macmillan Cancer Support

London Marathon 2024

Established in 1981, the annual London Marathon is run over a largely flat course around the River Thames covering 26.2 miles. Every year, around 50,000 people participate in London Marathon, with most applying through the ballot. Each year a new record number apply for the marathon, with over 500,000 entering the ballot for 2024. The ballot is drawn at random and around 20,000 people get in through this route.

We are very excited to share that two CUK employees have successfully gained places in the 2024 London Marathon. Angela Brennan (Warranty and Service Process Manager) and Claire Brown (Executive PA) will be running the London Marathon on Sunday 21st April 2024. Both Angela and Claire have discussed their upcoming challenge with us.

Q: What is your chosen charity and the reason for the charity you have chosen?

A: Children with Cancer. This has been the chosen charity for CLAAS UK & Retail for business year 2022 – 2023 so I wanted to do something further to fundraise for such an important charity.

Q: What was your reason for choosing to participate?

A: As part of our Charity Committee I wanted to do my bit to fundraise for this year’s nominated charity, Children with Cancer UK. I am a keen runner and have run several Marathons previously so asked if I could have one of their London Marathon places and was lucky enough to be selected.

Q: How many times have you participated in the London Marathon before?

A: Three.

Q: What is your chosen charity and the reason for the charity you have chosen?

A: St Michael’s Fellowship. A good friend approached me about running for St Michael’s Fellowship, they are based on the route of the London Marathon (Lambeth) and they do incredible work for vulnerable families across residential centres and the wider community. They do everything they can to ensure children and their families have the best possible start in life.

Q: What was your reason for choosing to participate?

A: I’ve been running since 2015, so came to it fairly late. But I find it a great escape with many health benefits. I think the big goal for most runners is the ability to run in the London Marathon, the crowd support and atmosphere is like none other. I’ve entered the London Marathon ballot 7 years in a row without success.

Q: Fundraising goal?

A: £2,000

Q: Ways you plan to fundraise?

A: Angie and I are going to organise the Quiz Night at Saxham on 12th October to help raise funds which we will split across our two charities. I also plan to do a car boot sale (we are moving house so have a lot of stuff!) as well as raise funds providing refreshments at a local running event I organise in February.

Q: Do you have a goal in terms of the time you plan to complete the marathon in?

A: Oh crikey, my time is getting slower and slower with each Marathon I run (old age!), but I would hope to do around 3 hours 45 minutes and fingers crossed race day isn’t hot!!

To Sponsor Claire: Claire Brown is fundraising for Children with Cancer UK (justgiving.com)

There are about 20,000 spots available via ballot however about 500,000 people applied for 2024.

Q: How many times have you participated in the London Marathon before?

A: Zero, but I have run the marathon in Malaga and a local marathon which is based in Barrow

Q: Fundraising goal?

A: £1,500

Q: Ways you plan to fundraise?

A: Bake sale, raffle, still thinking of a few other ideas.

Q: Do you have a goal in terms of the time you plan to complete the marathon in?

A: I would be happy to get my time under 5 hours.

To Sponsor Angela: https://2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/ pf/angela-brennan

Angela Brennan (Warranty & Service Process Manager, CUK)

Community events

St Nicholas Hospice Care 10k Run

What is coming up?

Fancy getting involved in charity work but don’t know where to look? Here are a few great websites that let you search for your area and find some inspiration!

www.cancerresearchuk.org/get-involved/find-an-event

www.eventbrite.co.uk/blog/uk-local-charity-events-ds00/ https://reachvolunteering.org.uk/

www.nwt.org.uk/volunteering-opportunities

CUK events

Autumn Bake Off

Back in June, the Sales & Marketing “Bake Off” had a great turnout, raising £125 in donations which went to Children with Cancer UK.

As the winner, Kim Bauly got to choose which charity the following event’s donations will go to and Crohn’s & Colitis UK was chosen. This means that any donations for the Autumn Bake Off (being held on Monday 9th October) will go to this charity via a Just Giving Page.

Bake Off events are not only a fun way to raise money for charity, they help to bring people together. There are no limits on the number of bakes allowed to enter and anybody from any department may take part.

For those at Saxham on this date, we look forward to seeing you on the day! If you wish to take part as a baker, please contact Natasha Murray or Kim Bauly.

Further details of the Autumn Bake Off can be found ahead.

Pub Quiz

On Thursday the 12th of October, you can take part in a company Pub Quiz to help raise money and support your own colleagues. Angela Brennan and Claire Brown will be running the London Marathon in 2024 and have organised this great event to raise donations for their charities.

As well as an evening of fun, laughter and questions to test you, there have been some incredible prizes donated by local companies - don’t miss out on the chance to get your hands on these!

One ticket includes food, entry for the quiz and 1 free raffle ticket. Attendees can also look forward to a full bar on the night! Those who attend can bring along their friends or family, bringing more people closer together in the company. Teams can be up to 6 people.

Further details of the Pub Quiz can be found ahead.

World Mental Health Day

Every year World Mental Health Day is held on 10th October. The theme for 2023, set by the World Foundation of Mental Health is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’.

World Mental Health Day is held to raise awareness of mental health and drive positive changes for everyone’s mental health. It is a chance to talk about mental health, how we need to look after it and how important getting help is if you are struggling.

CLAAS do provide a range of support already for Mental First, the first being that all CLAAS UK and all CLAAS Retail Dealers have Mental Health First Aiders appointed within the business.

A Mental Health First Aider isn’t a counsellor and does not replace the need for ongoing support, but they are a point of contact to reassure a person who may be experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress, and to signpost them to professional support.

What can a Mental Health First Aider do?

Mental Health First Aiders can:

• Understand the important factors affecting mental ill health

• Identify the signs and symptoms for a range of mental health conditions

• Use a five-step action plan to provide MHFA to someone experiencing a mental health issue or crisis

• Listen non-judgementally and hold supportive conversations using the MHFA action plan

• Signpost people to professional help

Posters containing the details for the Mental Health First Aiders are displayed at each site. If you are unable to find the details then please contact the HR Department at CLAAS UK.

“Reaching out is a sign of strength, be brave enough to do it.”

All CLAAS employees also receive Health Assured as one of their company benefits. Health Assured is our Employee Assistance Program who you can contact for support with personal or legal problems. Through this, all employees can have 24/7 access to support through the app (currently ‘My

Healthy Advantage’, however changing to a new app ‘Wisdom’ this Autumn) or through the free confidential helpline (0800 028 0199). The Health Assured service can be used for a range of support and they can get you access to further support also, such as counselling.

Every day in the UK 10 children or young people are diagnosed with cancer. Around 3,755 young people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK.

Most common childhood cancers are:

leukaemia (31%)

brain & spinal cord (25%)

lymphomas (10%)

soft tissue sarcoma (6%)

neuroblastoma (6%)

renal tumours (6%)

Several cancers have poorer survival:

liver (65%)

acute myeloid leukaemia (68%)

bone tumours (70%)

neuroblastoma (71%)

soft tissue sarcomas (72%)

Stats from neuroblastoma.org.uk

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 2023

Since 1990, every year the month of September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month across the world. Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, also known as CCAM sets out to raise awareness and support for children suffering from cancer.

Every day in the UK, 10 children and young people receive the devastating news that they have cancer. Of those 10, sadly two will not survive. Of those who do survive, many will experience long-term side effects that may impact their lives significantly.

For the business year 2022 – 2023, CLAAS UK & Retail’s chosen charity has been Children with Cancer. Marion and Eddie O’Gorman founded Children with Cancer UK in 1987 in memory of their children Paul and Jean after losing them both to cancer within months of each other. For over 35 years, the charity has been working to fund vital research, support families and raise awareness. Their vision is a world where every child survives cancer.

So far CLAAS has raised over £6,000 this business year for Children with Cancer UK through a range of fundraising opportunities including company events (annual awards dinner and CUK/Retail celebrations), a CUK bake off, raffles and various other fundraising events.

So, as we head into Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and our final month supporting Children with Cancer, please where possible head over to CLAAS’ JustGiving page to further aid this wonderful charity in helping so many young lives.