Branch boss has a tree-t for hospice
ABUILDING society staff member became a branch manager of a different kind when she helped collect old Christmas trees.
Veronica McNeil, manager of the Leek United outlet on Chestergate, Macclesfield, joined other volunteers for East Cheshire Hospice on the annual January collection.
The initiative helps recycle old trees and those that hand them over make a donation to raise funds for the hospice, on Millbank Drive.
Vans take the trees away to be shredded.
Veronica said: “This is the second year that Leek United has sponsored one of the collection vans, and I wanted to join them again by helping on the rounds.
“Many of the old trees we collect would otherwise end up on rubbish dumps, so this is a great, fun way to raise funds for the Hospice – one of the society’s main charity beneficiaries – and the amazing work it does in our community.”
Each year, the Christmas tree collection raises more than £100,000 and last year the hospice reached the cumulative sum of £1million raised since the collection started 20 years ago.
Kate Bowmar, from the hospice, said: “We are extremely grateful that Leek United offered to sponsor a van for our annual Christmas tree collection for the second year in a row, and were delighted that Ronnie volunteered to join us again.
“Every year we rely heavily on the generosity of local businesses to cover the cost of running the collection, meaning all donations received will go directly to supporting the hospice.”