Charlie’s Volunteer Days Experience

Since the volunteer days have been introduced, many CLAAS employees have used their volunteer days for a range of opportunities.

Earlier this year, Charlie Cook-Lewis (Parts Supervisor, WESTERN Cirencester) used his two volunteer days by combining the two days with some annual leave to help at the Save Elephant Foundation in Thailand (www.saveelephant.org), a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing care and assistance to Thailand’s captive elephant population.

Charlie has very kindly shared his experience with us.

“I chose to use my volunteering days in Thailand. The reason I wanted to do this is because me and my partner were due to go away traveling and we wanted to do something extra special while we were away and what’s more special than helping out at an elephant sanctuary.

Our volunteering was done over a couple of days. During this we helped prepare, feed and wash the elephants, which is not as easy as it sounds due to the size of them.

My favourite part was most definitely feeding them and it is quite surprising how gentle they were. They ate a lot of food, so it took a little while.

I’m glad that I was able to use my volunteering days to help me take part in looking after elephants. It’s one more thing to tick off my bucket list thanks to CLAAS.”

Charlie plans to return to the elephant sanctuary again in the future, and will be able to use his volunteer days again to do so.

Combine Challenge

In early June, UK farmer and YouTube influencer Olly Harrison drove his new LEXION 8700TT the length of the UK. H is aim was to draw attention to the hidden problems surrounding mental health, especially within agriculture, and to raise funds for 2 key charities - the mental health charity MIND, and Children with Cancer which is the chosen CLAAS UK charity for 2023.

Starting at John O’Groats in the north of Scotland, over 5 days Olly together with 3 friends, John Branson, Martin Williams and James Baldini, drove a total of 1,500 km (940 miles!) to the southernmost point of England at Land’s End. James works for CLAAS dealer MORRIS CORFIELD who supply and service Olly’s CLAAS machinery including the LEXION 8700TT.

The idea to raise awareness and funds for mental health came from the very sad fact that all four of the team have lost friends due to mental health issues resulting in suicide. Thee four are united in their belief that these terrible tragedies could have been avoided had their friends opened up about their problems to their family, friends and colleagues.

“One of the biggest lies in the world is when we are asked how we are and we reply with ‘I’m fine thanks’, instead of saying how we really feel. A problem shared is a problem halved,” states Olly. To counter this, he is trying to encourage people to answer how they are really feeling as a percentage, and this is the message he has been spreading both in his YouTube videos and through the charity combine challenge, his strapline ‘How are you today? #answerasapercent’ is now emblazoned on the auger of his LEXION 8700TT.

The combine charity challenge has raised an incredible £86,000 so far, with more donations coming in daily.

@OllyBlogsAgricontractfarmer

CLAAS UK Annual Chosen Charity Update

This year CLAAS UK are supporting ‘Children with Cancer UK’ as their selected charity.

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. To see how our fundraising is going or to donate to Children with Cancer UK please go to our Just Giving page or use the QR Code.