Leyland Trucks donates £17,000 to local causes

Leyland Trucks and its Helping Hand charity arm celebrated the international Giving Tuesday event by handing out cheques totalling £17,000 to local good causes.

Representatives from St Catherine’s Hospice, Derian House, Tender Nursing Care and The Natalie Kate Moss Trust attended Leyland Trucks’ headquarters to receive fundraising cheques from Helping Hand, which over the past seven years, has donated more than £100,000 to numerous community causes.

This year’s #LinkingLeyland fundraiser, organised by Helping Hand, included several events, which kick-started with Leyland Trucks’ iconic truck pull. In June, numerous teams took on the challenge of heaving an eight-tonne DAF truck over a 125 ft course in the fastest time, which took place during St Catherine’s Hospice’s Yellow Ribbon Day – an annual event which attracts more than 1,000 supporters.

In July, a Ride and Ramble Day featured a 1k and 10k walk, plus a bike ride along Preston’s Guild Wheel trail and an 80-mile Touch the White Rose ride to Settle. That same month, fun runners and experienced athletes laced up to walk, jog or run 1k or 10k around the scenic Cuerden Valley Park, which then culminated in August with a group taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge.

Also in attendance was representatives from local suppliers and partners, including Schneider Electric, Lancashire DAF, Atlas Copco, Amazon, Leyland Rotary and Made Profile – who collectively donated £7,000 as this year’s #LinkingLeyland sponsors.

Phil Jones, chairman of Helping Hand and director of operations at Leyland Trucks, said: “It’s been an incredible year, with our famous truck pull, a Ride and Ramble Day, a community fun run and a hiking team taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks. We’re lucky to have an army of dedicated, compassionate, and very hardy fundraisers who are willing to truly go the extra mile in aid of local causes.

“Giving Tuesday is a fitting celebration of the charities we support and the superb work they do. It’s a celebration of the inspirational people who give up time and energy to join in our challenges, the businesses that have taken up our cause as if it’s their own, and the numerous individuals who support us along the way. From everyone at Helping Hand and Leyland Trucks, we want to say a heartfelt thank you.

“These organisations do incredibly important work, helping those within our community during times of greatest need. I’ve no doubt that the money raised will aid numerous exceptional avenues of work, and help to spread hope and joy during the festive season."