Staff at an East Yorkshire poultry business raise funds for a former colleague at Christmas party

The team at Soanes Poultry raised over £250 from a raffle that was drawn at the Middleton on the Wolds company's annual Christmas party at Beverley Rugby Club recently.

Raffle prizes were donated by businesses, including Paneltex, Drewton's and CAM Refrigeration, and staff. All the proceeds benefitted the Helen Bettley Memorial Fund in memory of the business's former Technical Manager, who passed away in 2018.

One of the Trustees of the fund, Finance Director Claire Wright, said: "Helen was a highly regarded colleague and much-loved friend who is sadly missed.

"We're proud to be keeping Helen's memory alive through fundraising and are delighted to have raised almost £1,500 for Helen's Fund over the last 18 months through a series of events including a Race Night and a World Cup sweepstake.

"In addition, our area farms manager, Mark Ireland competed in the gruelling Hardwolds 80 mile race along the Yorkshire Wolds Way and raised over £1,000 for Papworth Hospital, where Helen was treated.

"Thank you to all the team who gave their support to the raffle and congratulations to delivery driver, Keith Walker, who won the most coveted prize of the evening - a ‘Duvet Day' off donated by our MD, Nigel Upson."

The Christmas raffle was the latest in a series of events that Soanes Poultry has planned to raise money for charitable causes in Helen's memory. Earlier this year, a donation of £500 was made from the fund to the North Yorkshire Music Therapy Centre.

Soanes Poultry is a family owned business which has been rearing and preparing chicken since 1947. It currently employs 120 people and sells its chicken to butchers and independent retailers throughout Yorkshire and to wholesalers nationwide.