Local fundraisers awarded diamond award for dedication to charity Christian Aid.
Long-time church volunteers in Dartford who have helped raise thousands of funds for Christian Aid have received awards acknowledging their outstanding contribution to the charity.
Rev Richard Mortimer of Christ Church in Dartford, Kent presented Diamond Awards to Christine Wood; Mary and Mike Knower; and John and Lorna Neale during a ceremony on 7 May at Christ Church Dartford.
Christine has organised street collections and helped organised many fundraising events for Christian Aid for over 30 years. Mike and Mary, likewise, have been collecting during Christian Aid week for over 25 years. Lorna and John, the Christian Aid organiser for Dartford churches, have also been deeply involved in Christian Aid’s fundraising efforts for many years.
As Christian Aid marks 60 years of its annual fundraising drive, Christian Aid Week, the charity is celebrating the incredible dedication of its supporters by awarding Diamond Awards across the UK.
Every May, thousands of supporters take the streets – for door-to-door collections, bake sales, sponsored walks, abseils, among many other events – to raise money to support people around the world living in poverty.
Rev Richard said: “Our Christian Aid Week Diamonds are absolutely committed to getting the Church and wider society to respond to issues of justice in the world and have shown unflagging resolve and energy in raising funds each Christian Aid Week.”
Christian Aid’s Kent Regional Coordinator David Muir said: “Without the dedication of our supporters year on year, like Christine, Mary, Mike, John and Lorna, we wouldn’t be able to do the work that we do, including providing security and comfort for refugees around the world, advocating for policies that protect them and helping them find a safe place to call home.”
Christian Aid was born in the aftermath of the Second World War, when a generation of Christians decided they would not stand by while people suffered in refugee camps, and continues to support people seeking a safe place to call home today.
You can help to change the lives of people fleeing conflict and crisis this Christian Aid Week by donating online at www.caweek.org calling 08080 006 006, or texting ‘GIVE’ to 70040 to give £5.