Major International and Crown Moran Hotels have joined forces to launch a Charitable Trust to provide support for good causes within the hospitality industry.
The Trust will be financed by the two founding companies and will organise a series of fund raising activities to raise money for charities chosen by employees of the two firms.
The first event will take place in October this year when David Bryant, managing director, Major International and Stephen Scuffell, group executive chef Crown Moran Hotels and vice president – schools liaison, The Craft Guild of Chefs, will walk the Channel Islands, equivalent to walking a marathon a day for four days.
All money raised from the walk will be distributed between 5 organisations The Craft Guild of Chefs, the British Culinary Federation, the Federation of Chefs Scotland, paid into the benevolent funds, for association members in times of hardship, and also the Macmillan Nurses and The Pink Ladies in the Channel Islands.
David Bryant explains: “Major has donated thousands of pounds over the last 5 years, all of which has been donated to chef associations. So although we are not new to giving back to our industry, we decided to set up the Trust to provide a more formal structure to our charitable work. Over the next five years we have pledged to raise in excess of £100K and we are determined to hit the ground walking!!!
“As an experienced walker, Stephen is a great inspiration and is providing guidance on diet and fitness. I am currently in training and walking approximately 20 miles per week and now hitting the gym!!, in order to get in shape for October. As a man who has not exercised regularly for many years, apart from playing golf, and who likes his food and the odd pint that is no mean feat.”
“From a corporate perspective, Major is committed to giving employees the opportunity to ‘give back’ to the community, whether that is through fundraising or supporting good causes in other ways. We are encouraging employees to take part in the fundraising events to enable us to raise as much money as possible.”
Stephen Scuffell, who raised £26,000 in 2009 by walking from London to Birmingham and Leeds to Birmingham, is enthusiastic about the prospect of another charity walk. “I am delighted to be once again in training for another serious fundraising challenge. We will walk around four of the Channel Islands – Guernsey, Sark, Herne and Alderney, walking 110 miles over four days, which is equivalent to a marathon each day. It will be tough going. Not only is there a considerable physical challenge to contend with but we will also be up against the elements and come rain or shine the show will go on.”
For further information, please visit www.majorint.com
email Jo-Ann Stapley
or call on 01933 356012
If you would like to make a donation online, please visit www.majorint.com