Bank staff and charity volunteers combine forces in North East coastline fundraiser

Bank staff and charity volunteers combine forces in North East coastline fundraiser

Northern RockWednesday, 4 August, 2010

Dedicated Northern Rock staff have teamed up with Samaritans volunteers in Sunderland and South Tyneside to raise over £2,500 for the charity.

As part of Samaritans’ national awareness day 24:7, 40 volunteers and friends from Samaritans and Northern Rock set off on their 7km sponsored walk from Souter Lighthouse in South Shields on Sunday 1 August.

Joining in the fun was the Mayor of South Tyneside, Councillor Tom Piggot - who said: “It was a pleasure to take part in this wonderful event for a very worthy charity. It is extremely important that the people of the area are aware of the invaluable service that is available from Samaritans. Dig deep – it is not too late to sponsor the walkers.”

Colleagues and fellow Samaritans volunteers cheered from the sidelines and a range of refreshments were well-received by the exhausted hikers at the finishing point at Roker Foreshore, on the north side of the River Wear.

Samaritans is the only service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering non-judgemental, confidential emotional support to anyone experiencing emotional distress and 24:7 raises awareness of the charity’s round-the-clock availability.

Event participant Sue, a Northern Rock employee and Samaritans volunteer said: “It has been a great day for everyone involved. The combined efforts of staff at Northern Rock and Samaritans volunteers has given the Charity of the Year partnership an exciting boost of energy. I would like to thank the Mayor of South Tyneside who made this event extra special. Vital funds raised from this event will allow Samaritans to answer more calls from people in distress. ”

The sponsored walk was the second event in a year-long calendar of activities planned by Northern Rock staff to raise funds for Samaritans, their Charity of the Year for 2010/11.

-Ends-

Media contacts:

Claire Duncan , Samaritans - 020 8394 8345 or email c.duncan@samaritans.org 

Jule Wilson, Northern Rock – 0191 279 4676 or email press.office@northernrock.co.uk

Notes to editors

Samaritans' vision is for a society where fewer people die by suicide because people are able to share feelings of emotional distress openly without fear of being judged.  Samaritans believes that offering people the opportunity to be listened to in confidence, and accepted without prejudice, can alleviate despair and suicidal feelings.

Samaritans is a registered charity, founded in 1953, which offers 24-hour confidential emotional support to anyone in emotional distress.  The service is offered by 16,534 trained volunteers and is entirely dependent on voluntary support.  Across the UK, you can call Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 (1850 60 90 90 in the Republic of Ireland) email jo@samaritans.org, write to Samaritans at Chris, PO Box 9090, Stirling, FK8 2SA, or if you are deaf or hard of hearing use the single national minicom number 08457 90 91 92. Log on to www.samaritans.org for more information. Calls from BT will be charged at up to 2 pence per minute at all times. A call set-up fee of 7 pence applies to calls from residential lines. Mobile and other providers' charges may vary.