10:12 am, December 23, 2014
CHRISTMAS will be made extra special for the children at Derian House Children’s Hospice in Chorley thanks to a successful toy appeal launched by car retailer Hobin of Preston SEAT… with a little help along the way from England cricket legend Freddie Flintoff.
Gifts worth about £350 will be making their way to the local charity.
The appeal resulted in local businesses, customers and staff at the dealership on the city’s Riversway Motor Park in Admiral Way donating gifts from model cars and sensory toys to perfumes and jigsaw puzzles. Customers who bought new and used SEAT cars during the appeal received a £250 discount on the purchase price if they donated a wrapped-up gift.
Now the collection of gifts are ready for Santa Claus to deliver to the hospice in Astley Village after he took time out from his busy schedule to take a look at the fine array of gift-wrapped goodies in the cavernous boot of a SEAT Leon ST in the dealership’s showroom.
Kathryn Lumb, vehicle administrator at Hobin of Preston SEAT, said: ‘The way people in the local community have come forward to support the toy appeal has been touching. There is an assortment of lovely gifts and I would like to thank everyone for their support.’
Danielle Nash, a community fundraiser at the hospice, said: ‘Our partnership with Hobin of Preston SEAT has been fantastic. The presents donated will go some way to ensuring all our children and young people have a very merry Christmas. Any way companies like this can help us is always much appreciated.’
The toy appeal received a timely boost when Preston-born Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff retweeted @PrestonSEAT’s promotional tweet about the appeal to his 1.55 million followers.
Incorporated in 2001, Hobin of Preston SEAT is a locally-owned family-run business specialising in the sale of new and used SEATS, and their aftercare.
Derian House is currently supporting more than 300 families who have a child with a life-threatening illness and a further 200 who are receiving bereavement support. Those cared for are aged from new-born to 26 years old.
The picture above shows Santa Claus checking out the pile of presents with Danielle Nash, left, and Hobin of Preston SEAT service advisor Rachel Waller
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