Birmingham based Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care has raised more than £16,000 for its charity of the year Alzheimer’s Society and is to support the cause for a third successive year in 2017.
Last year’s bumper sum brings the total collected so far to over £28,000 as the family firm’s network of 177 branches got behind the charity to raise funds and awareness.
Cake sales, themed days, sponsored runs and cycle rides, plus a national competition for children to design a pair of glasses, were among the engaging activities used and proved a big hit.
Chairman Nicholas Georgevic said: “The response has been fantastic and has really touched a chord. We have developed close links with Alzheimer’s Society since we adopted it as our charity of the year in 2015 and we were keen to continue the partnership.
“There is growing evidence of a link between hearing loss and dementia, including Alzheimer’s, and as dementia affects so many people there is an increasing need for help and care.
“We have lots of enthusiasm for this special cause and are looking forward to continuing to give our wholehearted support.”
Ray Nash, Senior Regional Corporate Fundraising Executive for Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Scrivens has been such a positive partner in raising funds and awareness of how people are affected by dementia and the scope of our work. We are delighted the company and its staff will continue to help us to fund services to support people to live well with the condition now, and fund a cure for the future.”
Scrivens branch staff plan to hold more fundraising events and awareness days and take part in Memory Walks and other sponsored activities for the charity in the year ahead, including a photography competition to create a ‘special memories’ charity calendar.
Alzheimer’s Society is the leading support and research charity in the UK for people with dementia and those who care for them. Alzheimer’s Society estimates 23 million people have a close friend or family with dementia.
Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care was established in 1938 and has 177 stores in England and Wales, and 1,000 employees. For more information, visitwww.scrivens.com