Huddersfield firm helps charitable duo raise £500k for country's biggest causes

A Yorkshire-based two-man fundraising duo has raised almost £500k with the support from a local Huddersfield-based business.

Linthwaite-based Arrow Self Drive has been supporting the small team at Redwood Events for the past three years, helping them generate over £180k for local and national causes.

Redwood Events, comprising of Mike Wilson and Steve Wood, have organised and run events including sports walks and cycle rides to help raise money for a number of charities and individuals since 2007.

Over the past 11 years, they have raised £415k. Charities which have benefited include The Stroke Association, Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, BBC Children in Need and Candlelighters.

Mike commented: “It doesn’t feel right accepting payment for what we do; if we take any cash we are only too aware that we are taking money away from our chosen charities, and to be honest, that goes against the grain.

“We are just happy to get a hoodie out of each event, you should see my wardrobe and the collection I have built up over the years!”

Mike and Steve have full time jobs and undertake their charity work voluntarily in their spare time. They have also worked with companies including Lloyds Banking Group, NBS Wakefield and HBOS to arrange and run various events.

The duo set up a website to showcase their events and acts as a guide to participants.

They organise all the routes, timings, logistics, fundraising pages, registration forms, walking shirts and they even drive the minibus support vehicle, sometimes for 48 hours straight.

Arrow Self Drive has provided a much-needed minibus for the event and with additional sponsorship coming from the Cinnamon Lounge, BPC Fixings and Ossett Brewery.

James Hill, managing director of Arrow Self Drive, also said: “We are very proud of our partnership with Redwood Events.

“We think they deserve a medal for the work they do and want to take this opportunity to congratulate them on their most recent success with Lois Lanes as well as all their previous fundraising efforts.”