No Half measures for Team Leekes
A dedicated group of Leekes staff will show their ongoing support for NSPCC Cymru by going the extra mile at the Cardiff University Cardiff Half Marathon.
Team Leekes will hit the streets of the Welsh capital on Sunday 4th October in the name of Wales’ largest children’s charity, which is again Lead Charity Partner to the nation’s largest mass-participation event.
More than £140,000 was raised to help protect every childhood and continue the NSPCC’s work in Wales at last year’s event. The NSPCC has Childline bases across the UK, with one of their bases at our Cardiff National Office. The incredible sum raised from last year could help fund Childline for 4.5 days, to help Childline counsellors be there to listen to children when they need it most. On average, a child somewhere in the UK contacts Childline every 25 seconds. In 2018/19 our Childline volunteers delivered over 250,000 counselling sessions to children and young people. We estimate around 7,000 of those children lived in South Wales. Team Leekes have been supporting NSPCC’s vital work for the last 15 years, and they are back for 2020 to continue their selfless fundraising efforts.
Emma Leeke, Managing Director of Leekes Retail said: “As a family business with many of our team also including multiple family members, we understand the importance of strong family units.
“We understand that not everyone is lucky enough to enjoy a supportive family environment and have been committed for the last 15 years to supporting the work of the NSPCC in Wales recognising the brilliant and much needed work they do to support children growing up in difficult and far from ideal environments.
“We recognise the importance of supporting children experiencing challenges in their formative years to enable them to have an improved childhood.”
As one of the UK’s leading independent retailers Leekes have been helping their customers create beautiful homes for over 120 years with inspirational products and friendly expert advice for every room in the home.
Staff from their four department stores and Llantrisant head office unite for physical challenges and less vigorous fundraising events year on year, and 2020 looks set to be their biggest and best yet.
Emma continued: “We have encouraged our employees as well as their friends, family and contacts to play a part in Team Leekes whether it has been undertaking the physical challenges such as the 10K, half and full marathons, arranging fundraising events and even simply supporting our fundraising efforts.
“We have a big network of people we can turn to for support and their willingness to help has been gratefully received and is so appreciated.”
Wales Appeal Board Manager at NSPCC Cymru/Wales, Emma Brennan says:
“We are extremely grateful to the staff members at Leekes preparing to take on this year’s Cardiff Half Marathon to raise money for NSPCC Cymru.
“The incredible support of fundraisers like them enables us to be there for children in Wales when they need it most, through direct services, Childline, and our Schools Service, which offers free ‘Speak out. Stay safe’ assemblies to every primary school.
“We’ll be cheering on our passionate #TeamNSPCC on the day, and it’s not too late to get involved – sign up via www.nspcc.org.uk/2020cardiff.”
