TheHarpNews.com

This month one of our employees is preparing for a close shave to lose his 10-year-old beard to raise funds for an Erdington school. Roger Ford, who works at our head office, wants to raise money to help the Bridge School - which caters for children with special needs – in buying a special trolley which will help significantly in getting the children showered after hydrotherapy sessions.
Roger said: “On a recent visit to the school, staff told me of the desperate need for a hydraulic shower trolley. Many of the children aged between two and eleven years have severe and profound multiple physical and learning difficulties. Therefore it can be very difficult for staff lifting the children on and off the existing fixed provision and a new trolley would make a world of difference.
“I like to help the local community, so I thought maybe it was time to say goodbye to my beard for a good cause. Because the Bridge School is located in Erdington, it finds it difficult to tap into funding from neighbouring areas such as Sutton Coldfield and it’s also a bit too far out from the city centre to access additional funding,” he added.
Roger has vowed to lose his cherished facial hair in order to contribute towards the £2,500 needed for the hydraulic shower trolley on his 42nd birthday this month. He will be clean shaven for the first time in more than 10 years. We have given him our full backing – and as a company, have offered to match fund any money Roger manages to raise.
We think it’s great that Roger is going to make this sacrifice to help the kids and are wholeheartedly supporting him but would urge local businesses and the comm-unity to get behind him in raising the money to reach the target.
Bridge School headmaster Steve White said: “We are very grateful to Roger, and Pertemps Employment Alliance, for vowing to help us in buying the trolley.
“It will benefit both the staff and the children greatly and make handling the children easier for the staff and a great deal more dignified whilst enabling even more kids to participate in therapeutic jacuzzi sessions.”
We supported Bridge School at the end of last year through our Erdington development centre on Jarvis Road and our Give as You Earn (GAYE) scheme. The money being used to fund horse riding sessions for the older children at the school.
If anyone wishes to sponsor Roger’s efforts in raising money for the Bridge School you can contact the Erdington Pertemps Development Centre on 0121 350 4680.