2016-06-24 |
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Harbro Marks 40th Anniversary with Charity Challenge
To celebrate their 40th year in business, Harbro Limited aims to raise £40,000 for charities with a series of fundraising initiatives and events over the next 12 months.
The beneficiaries have been announced as Kidney Kids Scotland, JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), British Heart Foundation and north-east Scotland based CLAN.
Graham Baxter, MD
Harbro started off with less than 10 employees in Turriff back in 1977, providing nutritional advice and feed supplements to pig farmers in the north-east of Scotland.
The company which trades throughout the UK, now manufactures feeds and supplements for all types of farm livestock and poultry, in addition to mobile mixing and a growing export business. Over 360 employees are now involved in the business with an annual turnover of £100M.
“We wanted to celebrate reaching this milestone and do something memorable that would involve our staff and our customers who have supported us over the years, so we set ourselves the goal of raising £40,000 by the time the company turns 40 in May 2017.” says managing director Graham Baxter.
Two of the charities, JDRF and Kidney Kids Scotland have close personal links with Mr Baxter and Peter Kenyon, Harbro chairman.
Five year old Sam, grandson of Graham and Kathleen Baxter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in June 2015. This is a life long autoimmune condition that requires 24 hour care and it has been a big adjustment for Sam and his family.
Peter and Alison Kenyon’s daughter Kate, now 23 suffered from kidney failure as a young girl as result of E. coli 0157 infection. She received her first kidney transplant aged seven and a second kidney this year with a period of four years of dialysis in between.
“In addition to these two charities which are youth focussed, we decided to support the British Heart Foundation and north-east based CLAN, benefiting the many families whose lives are affected by heart disease and cancer.” added Mr Baxter.
Fundraising will take place at shows and events over the summer whilst Harbro colleagues from over 20 locations are getting involved too. They will be organising events in their own areas from Shetland down to Yorkshire and some have chosen to ‘get on their bike’ and take part in cycling races.
A number of events have already been planned in the north-east of Scotland and these include a golf outing at Turriff Golf Club on Thursday 22 September, a ladies afternoon tea and fashion show at Oldmeldrum next spring and a 40th anniversary ball in May 2017 at Thainstone Exchange, Inverurie.
