Debenhams Ottaway raises over £7,000 in one week for charity

Last week Debenhams Ottaway held its second Charity Week. This time it was in aid of their chosen charities for the year Mind in Mid Herts and St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust. The week raised over £2,200 which was matched by Debenhams Ottaway, in addition to another £3,000 raised for a charity bike ride in Cuba. All in all raising over £7,000.

The flagship event of the week was a quiz and curry night at Veer Dhara restaurant which was supported by many local businesses. Other events organised by staff during the Charity week included a bake sale, FIFA and Mario Kart tournament, bingo night and ‘wear a hat to work’ Friday.

In addition to the Charity Week, planning partner Bernadette Hillman is taking part in the Cycle Cuba Challenge 2015 for Mind in Mid Herts. She will be cycling 400km across Cuba with 80 other cycling enthusiasts later this month.

Mind in Mid Herts is a local mental health voluntary association and charity affiliated to national charity Mind. Its aim is to provide mental health help and support services across the mid Hertfordshire area with centres in St Albans, Welwyn Garden City, Hertford and Stevenage.

The St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust is Debenhams Ottaway’s cultural charity for a second year running whilst they are raising funds for a major project to relocate the museum and gallery to the Town Hall with funding secured from the lottery and local council.

Mind in Mid Herts Operations Manager Tracy Marshall said “We cannot thank Debenhams Ottaway enough for their wonderful support. The money they have raised will go a long way towards continuing our much needed support services and will allow us to reach more people.”

Mike Gray, Chairman of St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust commented “Once again Debenhams Ottaway has shown it cares about local charitable projects. We are very grateful for their support of renaissance: St Albans, the project to create a cultural heritage centre of excellence in the Town Hall.”

Bernadette Hillman, partner at Debenhams Ottaway said “supporting local charities and initiatives continues to be important to us. This year staff nominated two great charities to support, Mind in Mid Herts and St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust. Thank you to all staff and friends of Debenhams Ottaway for their support and generosity during our Charity Week. The challenge now for me is a 400km bike ride!”