12.02.16
UKRIA raises over £30,000 for ChildLine
Guests at this year's UK Rail Industry Awards raised a staggering £30,000 for the event's chosen charity, ChildLine.
Following a rousing speech by the charity's founder, Dame Esther Rantzen, the 1,100-strong audience dug deep to support the organisation, which is now part of the NSPCC.
After delegates raised £5,000 for the Railway Children last year, for 2016 the UKRIA team decided to work with ChildLine, the free 24-hour counselling service for young people, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
During her speech at the event last night, Dame Esther described how contacting ChildLine had saved so many precious young lives and that over four million children had been helped by the charity in the last 30 years.
Generous guests contributed £10,720 from the tables, and then Dame Esther surprised everyone by auctioning off two tickets to the Queen’s upcoming 90th birthday celebrations. After the tickets went for an amazing £10,000 through a personal contribution by Cabfind's MD Chris Jordan, RTM and UKRIA managing director Roy V Rowlands delighted the NSPCC by pledging to match that amount. This brought the night’s total fundraising to £30,000!
When the final figure was revealed, Dame Esther said: "This has been a fantastic effort by the rail industry.
"Every pound raised will go towards providing support to the most vulnerable young people across the country."
As well as raising money for a worthy cause, delegates were entered into a prize draw with the winner picking up a two-night stay in a luxury hotel. Harrods also donated two hampers for the runners up.
Roy C Rowlands, business development director at RTM and UKRIA, said: "It is great we've been able to build on the success of last year. And it was fantastic Dame Esther was able to attend, and give such a passionate speech.
"To raise so much money for ChildLine is an incredible achievement. It also shows the generosity of those working in the rail industry."
To see who won at UKRIA 2016, the rail industry's most prestigious awards, click here.