Waste Warriors take to the waters for Bradford Hospitals Charity

Staff from Bradford Council’s waste services are teaming up with colleagues from Associated Waste Management (AWM) to raise money for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity.

Local authority staff will join forces with staff from AWM – a waste contractor to Bradford Council – to take part in this weekend’s Bradford Dragon Boat Festival. The team, called Waste Warriors, are aiming to raise at least £2,500 for the hospital charity’s cancer fund.

It is hoped the money will go towards refurbishing some of the areas in the chemotherapy day case unit and ward areas used by cancer patients.

The staff taking part are from a range of areas, including management, transport and office staff.

They are one of 12 teams rowing for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity at this Sunday’s multi-charity championship day – a record number for any charity in the popular annual festival.

Mike Robinson, head of marketing and PR for AWM, said: “When we were approached to join forces with Bradford Council’s waste services department to row in the dragon boat festival, it made absolute sense. The teams at AWM and Bradford Council work together all week long, so rowing in the dragon boat race together to raise funds for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity is a golden opportunity.

“AWM is part of the Beauparc Utility Group and has a community-centric corporate social responsibility programme aimed at directing activities in the areas around our sites. We have over 50 team members hoping to row in one of the races and, win or lose, we’ll all enjoy the day and hopefully raise lots of money for such an essential charity in our district.”

Amanda Procter, lead cancer nurse for Bradford Teaching Hospitals, said: “We are so grateful to AWM and Bradford Council staff for raising money for our cancer fund. We pride ourselves on providing first class treatment and care, but we always strive to do more. We wish them the best of luck at the festival and hope they have a fantastic time!”

Hayley Collis, head of fundraising for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, said: “Thank you so much to Bradford Council and AWM for choosing our charity. NHS charities make a significant contribution to funding equipment, training, research and supporting staff.

We rely on the support of our local community to ensure Bradford Teaching Hospitals provides the very best treatment and care. This money will go a long way towards improving the environment where our patients are treated for cancer.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “This is a great event for our staff to have fun as well as to raise money for a much-needed good cause.

“The Dragon Boat Festival has become a well-established event in the district and is proving more popular than ever. We are glad to give our backing to the team from the Council’s waste services and may the best Dragon win.”

To make a donation to Waste Warriors, please visit

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mike-robinson35

You can read the full list of 12 teams taking part to raise money for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity at https://bradfordhospitalscharity.org/event/dragon-boat-festival-roberts-park-saltaire/

To find out more about Bradford Hospitals’ Charity and how you can support your local hospitals, visit www.bradfordhospitalscharity.org. Alternatively, contact Hayley Collis or Elaine Drake on 01274 274809 or email [email protected]

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