Hird team steps out to give children a Christmas lift

Children who would otherwise go without will receive a gift from Santa this Christmas thanks to warm-hearted Hird employees and staff.

They raised £1,884 for the Hull-based Viking FM Mission Christmas Cash for Kids. The campaign raises money to buy Christmas presents for children who would otherwise get nothing.

The donation was one of three, all for £1,884, to charities made possible by the generosity and mountain climbing ability of Hird employees based in Hull.

Crane hire, contract lifting, machine moving, powered access hire and industry training specialist Hird has its headquarters in Hull with hubs in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, and in Redhill, Surrey.

During the summer, a team from Hird completed the 3 Yorkshire Peaks challenge, climbing the three highest mountains in Yorkshire during a 24-mile walk in 12 hours.

The fundraising walk raised £4,019. This was then added to a fund created by Hird employees making 50p-a-week voluntary donations the Hird annual charity fund, with every penny matched by the company.

The total amount raised has been split between three charities.

Along with the Mission Christmas Cash for Kids campaign, £1,844 was donated to Dove House Hospice, based in Hull, and Hull 4 Heroes, a charity that supports military veterans.

Hird Director Carl Norfolk said: “The generosity of our colleagues and their willingness to put the hard graft in with the 3 Yorkshire Peaks challenge has really paid off this Christmas.

“This is the first time we’ve had a summer fundraising event. It was hard going, in blistering heat. But now a lot of disadvantaged people will have a better Christmas and more support in 2019 as a result.

“We have to also thank our many customers and suppliers who supported the 3 Yorkshire Peaks challenge for their donations as well. It’s been such a success that we’re already planning another event for 2019.”