Valentine’s Day Gift of Life
It felt fitting for Balcas to make a presentation of a new defibrillator on St Valentine’s Day in Enniskillen. The recipients were the Erne East Community Responder Scheme (EECRS) who have also been announced as our charity partnership for 2019.
Keith Gallagher – Balcas CFO, remarked; “It’s important to remember that a large number of our employees live rurally and that many of our forestry teams often operate in isolation, including the Erne East area; so being able to help a team of life saving volunteers is our privilege.”
Staff were earlier invited to nominate their charity of the year and it was Martin O’Neill, who volunteers with the scheme whose suggestion topped the poll. “As an employee I would like to thank Balcas for their careful consideration of all the charities this year and am extremely grateful that they chose EECRS. As a group of volunteers we are looking forward to working closely with Balcas in 2019 to try and further the scheme”
Stephen Mulligan, Coordinator of the scheme added; “It was a very pleasant surprise when I was informed that Balcas had selected our scheme as their Charity for 2019. Their support and assistance this year will provide vital equipment for our current responders and new volunteers joining the scheme. At a time when rural services and facilities are being removed or run down, the support from Balcas our responders can continue to provide this lifesaving service.”
Balcas are proud to be active in the community and in 2018, through fundraising activities and the generosity of staff in partnership with StC Payroll Giving raised more than £15,000 for charities local and further afield. It is hoped that this year’s partnership will bring vital funds for EECRS but also help raise their profile amongst the staff and friends of Balcas. An additional donation was made simultaneously from the team in Scotland to ‘Invergordon First Responders’ to mark their inaugural charity affiliation.
We are very grateful to PJD Safety Supplies who also donated hundreds of disposable masks and gloves to the charity on our behalf.
Ends
Photo: Stephen Mulligan of EECRS is presented with the defib by Keith Gallagher and Martin O’Neill from Balcas
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