We’re delighted to have received two Diamond Awards from Asda, Kingshill, West Malling.
The awards – a hamper and a certificate – were made at our charity’s headquarters at Rochester Airport by Chrissie Thomas, Community Champion for Asda Kingshill to KSS fundraiser and volunteer Tim Bell, and Fran Vale, our Community Fundraiser for Kent.
The Asda Diamond Awards are part of Asda’s 60th birthday celebrations and recognise outstanding organisations and individuals who make a difference in their communities.
Retired engineer Tim Bell has cleverly converted a mobility scooter into a fundraising helicopter, complete with lights, music and a smoke machine.
Tim is a familiar face across the region and particularly his home area of Sheerness where he can regularly be found fundraising at events and outside his local supermarket. Over the last few years he has raised over £60K for KSS.
Commenting afterwards Chrissie Thomas said: “Asda is 60 this year so we have been asked to nominate people to be Diamond Award winners. Instantly I thought of Tim Bell and Fran Vale from KSS. Tim does such a wonderful job entertaining people and collecting money on behalf of KSS with his incredible ‘helicopter’ and has raised an astronomical amount for this charity.
“The charity also deserves recognition as it not publicly funded and does incredible work, and I was pleased to be able to give the award to Fran, who does a great job.”
Receiving his award, Tim Bell said: “I’m honoured to receive this award. Chrissie and her colleagues have been wonderful in helping with dates that I can go along and do some fundraising. Without Asda’s brilliant support helping supporting KSS’, I wouldn’t be able to do it!”
Fran Vale, KSS Community Fundraiser for Kent said: “As an independent charity we depend on the support we receive from the communities we serve to raise the £56K a day we need to fund our lifesaving service. We’re so grateful to all our amazing supporters like Tim for helping us raise the funds we need and to organisations and businesses like Asda for their support.”
