The cheque presentation took place on Wednesday 4 December at Little Havens Hospice in Benfleet, an occasion which also marked the official handover of the event to Havens Hospices.
As the race has become a significant annual fixture in the business community calendar, both Birketts and Havens Hospices are keen to ensure its future. As a result, Birketts is now passing the Race4Business baton to Havens Hospices, which includes Little Havens as well as The J’s Hospice and Fair Havens Hospice.
Birketts is taking a step back from the Race4Business event to enable them to expand their Corporate Social Responsibility and charity initiatives, and continue to offer focused support to a variety of local projects and good causes, including the Essex Community Foundation.
Rafael Ruiz, Head of Birketts' Corporate and Commercial team in Chelmsford, commented: “I’m delighted to announce that Birketts’ final race has raised such an impressive sum of money for the hospice. It’s wonderful to be able to step back from this event on such a high, and Birketts can pass over the race baton feeling justly proud to have left a strong legacy for Little Havens to take forward.”
Rafael added: “Having established the race 21 years ago, we had no idea what a success it would be, and to have raised a total of over £600,000 for good causes due to the support of the local business community is staggering. We very much hope that the local businesses in Chelmsford and across Essex will come together again to support Havens Hospices and continue the success of the Race4Business in future years. In the meantime, we want to express our thanks to all those people who have generously supported the race over the past two decades.”
Lydia Plews, Senior Business Development Officer at Havens Hospices said: “We’re so grateful to Birketts for choosing Little Havens to be their beneficiary charity for the 21st Race4Business event. Little Havens is also celebrating its 21st year and this money will help our care team to continue providing palliative nursing and supportive care to babies, children and teenagers and their families in the comfort of their own home or at our hospice.
“We are delighted to be taking over the organisation of Race4Business in 2020. Havens Hospices does not charge a penny for any of our care services. Our hospice care can only exist because of the support and generosity of businesses like Birketts and everyone who takes part in this brilliant event. Race4Business has become such an important event for the Essex business community and we are proud to be part of its future.”
The next Race4Business will take place early Summer 2020 with registration set to open early in the New Year. Please go to their website for more information.
Image: Rafael Ruiz presenting the cheque to the hospice. Left to right are: Sophie Soraf, Tanya King, Lydia Plews, Rafael Ruiz, Steve Smith, Rachel Hawksworth and Sharyn Scott. Photograph courtesy of Havens Hospice.