Well Wishers is celebrating a new partnership with a world-renowned Walsall business which has supported the charity with £3,000 from its biennial open event.

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s charity received the proceeds of an auction and raffle from Maxcess’s ‘European Open House 2022’, the label and packaging industry networking biennial summit at its UK headquarters in Aldridge this week.

Adventurer, author and TV presenter Debra Searle MBE, who single-handedly completed a 3,000-mile row across the Atlantic in 2002, was the guest speaker on the second day of the summit hosted by Maxcess, one of the world’s biggest label and packaging equipment manufacturers.

Georgie Westley, Well Wishers Fundraising Manager, and Russell Caldicott, one of Well Wishers’ Trustees, who is also Walsall Healthcare’s Chief Financial Officer, attended the event and received the cheque from Neil Lilly, Regional Sales Director of Maxcess.

Proceeds from the auction and raffle from the second day of the summit generated around £1,500 for Well Wishers, however Odd Joergenrud, the Chief Executive of Maxcess, agreed to double the money raised and a cheque was presented for £3,000.

The auction itself included a signed Leicester City football shirt, a round of golf for two at the Belfry, a colour printer and an art collection piece made by the Danish artist.

Neil said: “Our fundraising focus is always on supporting local charities because we feel we can then see what comes from our contribution and how it benefits the local population and environment.

“Being based in Aldridge, the Manor is our local hospital and many of our 190 staff have connections there, whether through attending themselves as a patient, visiting loved ones or knowing people who work there. So we feel a real connection with Well Wishers and the Trust and this is a valuable relationship.”

Georgie said: “We were delighted to attend the event as guests of Maxcess and thrilled with their decision to support Well Wishers with the proceeds of the auction and raffle. The money will go towards supporting our staff to give our patients the best care.”

Delegates flew in from around the world and got to network with over 30 global suppliers, listen to speakers present on the most relevant and daunting challenges facing the industry and got to enjoy a hog roast lunch.

Olympic and world 400 metres silver medallist Roger Black was guest speaker on the first day of the event, from which the people of war-torn Ukraine were the beneficiaries of the auction and raffle.

Maxcess has 30 locations around the world and 2,200 team members.

Pictured, from left, Russell Caldicott, Well Wishers’ Trustee and Walsall Healthcare’s Chief Financial Officer, Debra Searle MBE, Neil Lilly and Georgie Westley.