Member Article

Sign manufacturer's staff to take part in GNR for charity

EMPLOYEES from one of the country’s leading sign manufacturers are to take part in this year’s Great North Run to raise vital funds for charity.

Michelle Doughty, Anth Lumsden and Stuart Ricalton from Astley have all signed up for the half marathon, which will this year see the one millionth runner cross the finishing line.

And taking part will have even more significance for the trio as their employer is responsible for building and installing the giant sign which is positioned along the side of the Tyne Bridge in celebration of the Great North Run.

Account Manager Michelle is raising money for Asthma UK in memory of her cousin Krystle, who sadly died in July last year at the age of 24 after suffering complications following an asthma attack.

Michelle, 36, from Winlaton, said: “After my cousin Krystle died last year, I really wanted to raise awareness about asthma and support the excellent work being done by Asthma UK. I was really shocked to learn that three people die in the UK every day as a result of the condition which is a lot higher than anyone realises. “Like any charity, Asthma UK relies on the help of people like me to support them with their fundraising efforts so anything I can do now to raise awareness is a bonus.”

Michelle’s participation in the Great North Run comes on the back of a charity walk she completed earlier this year, which involved her walking the length of Hadrian’s Wall. The walk helped raise over £2,000 for Asthma UK.

Anth, a contracts manager with Astley, is raising funds for national charity Help for Heroes.

The 36-year-old from Dunston said: “I chose Help for Heroes as I really want to give something back to the brave men and women who have given so much for us. The fact that the money stays in this country and huge grants are given to our region makes it a charity that is close to home.”

Sign engineer Stuart, 42, from Newcastle is raising funds for the Redheugh Boys Club football team.

David Forrester, Sales Director and co-owner of Astley, said: “It’s fantastic that three members of our team are taking part in this year’s Great North Run and raising much needed funds for charity in the process. Given our ties to the run, we’ll be doing everything we can to support Michelle, Anth and Stuart and help them collect as much money as possible for the causes they’ve chosen to support.”

Astley, which is headquartered at Team Valley in Gateshead and also has facilities in Leeds, Milton Keynes and Glasgow, has been established for over 90 years.

The company’s portfolio of clients includes many of the UK’s leading blue chip brands, including the Hilton Hotel Group, Frankie and Benny’s, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, the Co-operative Group and Esso, while it has also designed the signs for local leisure facilities including the Metro Centre and Eldon Square when they became part of the Intu Group; Metro Radio Arena; and Market Cross Jewellers.

Since re-launching in 1990 following the management buyout by David and fellow director David Redhead, the company has seen annual turnover increase year on year and in 2012 underwent a major re-brand, which saw the company become known as Astley, which incorporates Astley Signs, Astley Imaging and Astley Maintenance.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Leanne English .