OLYMPIC hero Adam Burgess has helped to unload the gifts donated to the JCB Christmas Toy Appeal ready for delivery.
Employees at the manufacturer’s plants in Rocester, Uttoxeter, Cheadle and Foston donated a record number of gifts this year, with the final total exceeding 1,700 presents.
The gifts have been handed over to the NSPCC and the Stoke-on-Trent based Hubb Foundation – with the first batch wrapped and delivered to the Co-op Academy Glebe in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent.
JCB-sponsored athlete Adam Burgess, who won a silver medal in Paris in the summer, and fellow Stafford and Stone Canoe Club member Harry Kirby (17) gave a helping hand with the wrapping before delivering the first gifts to excited school pupils.
Adam said, “It’s brilliant to be involved with the JCB Christmas Toy Appeal again. It was a really rewarding experience last year, especially seeing the kids’ faces light up as they opened their gifts. I had a great childhood and always had presents at Christmas, so it’s really great to be a part of this, which gives something back in our local area.”
Hubb Foundation school relationship manager Tana Owen added, “It’s incredible to have more than 1,700 presents – there are going to be so many happy children in Stoke-on-Trent when we get these delivered. I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone at JCB for these gifts.”
Harry Kirby stated, “As a youngster I always had presents to open at Christmas so it’s great to be involved with the JCB Christmas Toy Appeal which is helping children who aren’t quite as fortunate as I was as a child.”
Co-op Academy Glebe head of school Kirsty Suleman said, “We’re really privileged to have had this donation towards our school and it was absolutely wonderful to see the children’s faces when they opened the presents. We’ve worked in partnership with the Hubb Foundation and JCB for many years and we really are so thankful for the support.”
