The Mason Hayes Charitable Trust raises thousands of pounds for a local Primary School

THE MASON HAYES CHARITABLE TRUST RAISES THOUSANDS OF POUNDS FOR STOURPORT PRIMARY SCHOOL

Marcus Hayes has raised thousands of pounds for Stourport Primary School as part of a literacy initiative that the Mason Hayes Charitable Trust is working on with the school in the town.

Marcus established the Mason Hayes Charitable Trust in 2009 which provides financial and personal development support, mentoring and work placement opportunities to those who need it. During the last year Marcus has been visiting Stourport Primary School to present a series of literacy awards in memory of his father, Roy Hayes, who died in 2014 and was for many years a well- known resident of Stourport.

Following the announcement this year of Stourport Primary School’s best ever reading results, Marcus was keen to help the school further. When Head Teacher, Jacqui Elwis mentioned that the School was trying to raise money to replace and update its library books and facilities, Marcus pledged to raise the £10,000 that was needed for the project.

In commenting on how the £10,000 was raised Marcus said: “ It was only when I started to drive home after my visit to Stourport Primary School did I realise after a couple of telephone calls, that the Charitable Trust’s budget had been spent this year, did the enormity of what I actually promised to do really start to sink in.

 The only thing I could think of at that time that I could use to raise some money was the 170 miles coast to coast bike ride from Morecambe to Bridlington which I was going to do at the end of last month with good friend, and Stourport resident, Darren Wilson. Having said that, I wasn’t particularly optimistic. Who after all in the days of Just Giving and constant and ongoing requests for sponsorship, would want to sponsor two old men in lycra cycling across England?

But from the 1 July when I started fund raising and received almost £3,000 in pledges on that first day, I have been quite overwhelmed at the offers of sponsorship from Mason Hayes clients, Mason Hayes suppliers, professional contacts, family and friends. Everyone I spoke to from Brighton to Leeds wanted to know about Stourport Primary School!

I am truly indebted to my business partner Karen Houghton who has helped me raise eye-watering amounts of money from some of our clients and to Darren Wilson for allowing our bike ride to be turned into a far more serious affair, for all his efforts to raise money himself and in securing an additional donation of books to Stourport Primary School.

I would also like thank everyone who has sponsored this cycle ride. In doing so not only have they contributed significantly to the on-going excellent work of Stourport Primary and its teaching staff, but allowed the Trust to help a great little Primary School”.