DFDS Seaways has given a leading North East charity, Children North East, a helping hand by donating over £8,000 from its annual charity cruise initiative.

For the past three years the leading cruise ferry operator has been offering customers a special charity Mini Cruise to Amsterdam to celebrate its anniversary. This year, the company’s 143rd anniversary saw customers donate the largest amount ever.

 

Passengers were asked to donate either £25, £35 or £50 to Children North East rather than pay for their Mini Cruise break, with the full amount going to the charity.

 

Over 300 people travelled on the charity cruises which sailed on the 7th and 8th December, donating a total of £8,170 to Children North East. This is more than the previous two years donations together, which totalled just over £7,000, demonstrating the generosity of DFDS Seaways passengers, despite the recession.

 

John Crummie, UK Managing Director of DFDS Seaways commented: “The charity cruises have always been well received by our customers, and this year has been the most successful yet. We are over the moon to be donating such a significant amount of money to Children North East to give them a helping hand in their fundraising efforts.

 

“DFDS Seaways has been running these charity cruises to celebrate the company’s anniversary for the past three years and so far we have raised more than £15,000 for Children North East, proving that it really is an excellent way for our passengers to donate to a local charity which does such worthwhile work within our community.”

 

Children North East is the region’s longest established children’s charity providing vital help, emotional and practical support to families with young children who are facing difficulties.

 

Catrina Flynn, Fundraising and PR Manager for Children North East added: “Children North East is delighted that DFDS Seaways continue to support the work of Children North East and this magnificent donation from the Charity Cruise is a wonderful surprise - thank you so much to the company and its passengers for their generosity.  DFDS Seaways and Children North East have a relationship that spans several years and they have helped us in so many ways.  At present Children North East is trying to raise an extra £300,000 to refurbish its youth drop-in centre in the West End of Newcastle and this donation of over £8,000 will be a significant contribution towards this total.”

 

DFDS Seaways will be running another Charity Cruise to celebrate their birthday in November 2010 where all donations will go to Children North East.