A CHARITY champion who refuses to retire from a cause that has helped hundreds of people has been given a car to continue his good work.
Ron Kitching, the founder of the Grimsby And District Healthcare Charity, has raised more than £380,000 for equipment at the Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital in the past 16 years.
In September, the 80-year-old decided to step down from his responsibilities, including running the organisation's shop in Freeman Street.
However, the quadruple heart bypass survivor simply can't give up entirely. He's now back raising money and overseeing the operation on a part-time basis, and to honour his dedication, Ron has once again been given a silver Fiat from Stoneacre Motor Group for charity use.
"This is the second car kindly donated to us and we are so grateful," he said.
"It really does make a lot of difference to how the charity runs every day. Without the car we wouldn't be able to get to half of the functions we attend.
"The car is also great for advertising; everywhere we go people can see our logo.
"We would like to raise £500,000 by September as part of our Big Red Heart Appeal, which is for local heart patients, and we need all the help we can get.
"We need more companies like Stoneacre to come forward and help us with donations and holding events because everything we raise goes towards lifesaving equipment for the hospital.
"Everyone at the charity is extremely grateful for the generous donation of the car because it also saves us a lot of money that can now be used to help save lives."
Stoneacre's regional manager, Russ Sorsby, said: "Stoneacre is a family-owned business for local people and that is why we are helping.
"Our staff and customers are all from the area and that is why it is so important for us to support a charity that really helps.
"Ron does such a great job but needed help with transport. He constantly attends functions and charity events as well as the shop and also the stall which is based at Grimsby's hospital."
Get involved
If you wish to get involved in the Grimsby And District Healthcare Charity, call 01472 372236 or e-mail dan.russell@gsmg.co.uk