Brian’s an example to us all  Congratulations to Brian Hazell, founder of Wakefield-based Ashtree Roofing, who has been awarded an MBE in the 2011 New Year’s honour list. Having raised more than £630,000 to help children in Ethiopia, Brian says he is ‘humbled’ by the news. He started The Suzy Fund charity after seeing a picture of a starving girl 35 years ago. “I saw a photo in the paper of this girl in a rubbish dump,” he recalled. “Her parents had put her there, not because they didn’t love her but because they couldn’t feed her, and they thought someone would take pity. I read that 10p could save her life and thought there must be some way I could help.” Brian began collecting 10p every week outside his church from parishioners at St Peter and Paul Parish in Wakefield and is now raising upwards of £500 every week. As little as 10p can give a child a hot meal, yet these children are lucky to have three meals in a week. Brian, who is married with six children and 11 grandchildren of his own, said that the real honour was for all the people who had helped him. “I feel humbled, but proud as well. But in a way I feel sad that you get a meal for doing the decent thing – the decent thing should be automatic,” he said. “My target is to raise £1million for the charity,” he added. The Suzy Fund is run entirely by volunteers and overheads are kept to an absolute minimum. Now you can now donate with your mobile phone – simply text SUZY36 to 70070 and you will receive a reply with instructions about how to donate. These donations can be gift-aided too! |