Ashbourne Insurance Of Cheshunt – Celebrate 30th Anniversary With Charity Fundraising Extravaganza

In celebration of 30 years of service, Ashbourne Insurance of Cheshunt hosted a charity fundraiser at the Cheshunt Marriott with more than 150 local business customers,  suppliers, family  and staff in attendance.  They raised more than £3,000 at their 30th Birthday Extravaganza on Thursday March 24th, 2011 through raffle prize ticket sales, lookalike photos, donations and a silent auction of several signed and framed limited edition football prints donated by football legend, Bob Wilson OBE; and a selection aviation prints donated by Gulf War RAF hero John Nichol including a rare signed print entitled: Desert Storm, Tornado.

The Mayor, Councillor, Mr Mark Mills-Bishop attended the special anniversary event last week to officially mark the occasion together with a surprise visit from Hertfordshire Golden Balls himself (David Beckham lookalike,  Andy Harmer).  Guests were invited to have their own personal portrait photograph taken and printed on the evening with Becks for a donation to the Willow Foundation.

Peter Smits, Ashbourne Managing Director said,

We wanted to thank our loyal local customers, staff, friends and family with an evening of fun and entertainment which celebrated not only a great milestone for all of us at Ashbourne Insurance, but also celebrated everything Hertfordshire.  We are proud to mark 30 years of service in Cheshunt – the key strength of any business is the attitude and skills of its people, and as a team we have 30 years experience of offering our local customers personal and professional advice.

The Willow foundation is a charity we have worked closely with for the past three years and we have heard first hand from Bob and Megs Wilson how our fundraising efforts benefit the recipients of Willow Special Days Out. “Thank you to everyone who came to support us on our special evening and for those local businesses who donated prizes and services for such a deserving charity.”

The Willow Foundation, founded by Bob Wilson and his wife Megs, is a unique charity that organises and funds very special, morale boosting days out for 16 to 40 year olds with life threatening illnesses.  Ashbourne were inspired by the stories of seriously ill people who get such comfort, respite and sheer joy from being able to make a dream come true” and for many this is their last chance of a special day out.  The Foundation is on target to take 1400 people on special days this year.

The March 24th  evening event offered visitors the chance to enjoy a complimentary Fun Casino as well as support the Willow Foundation Charity by purchasing raffle tickets, bespoke photographs, making cash donations or, as indeed as many local businesses did donate a prize.  Prize donations came from the Marriott Cheshunt, Stevenage Boro Football Club, Paradise Wildlife Park, LV Insurance, RAF Gulf War Hero and local resident John Nichol, The Hertfordshire Golf & Country Club, Wine2laydown, Hannah Couzens Photography  to name a few.  Generous sponsors for the evening included: award winning Mamas CupCakes, BMDA Graphic Design, Funky Casinos, Mobile Stationery of Hertford who donated printing services; and David Horder of Lensflair Digital Photography captured all the special moments on camera.

Ashbourne Cheshunt currently provides insurance services to over 3000 local businesses and residents including local professionals, manufacturers, estate agents, taxi firms, new start-up SMEs and many more.

The Ashbourne Insurance Company is a family run, independent insurance broker with offices in Cheshunt and Hoddesdon.  It was founded in 1981, as a traditional high-street broker to serve the needs of local private and business customers.  It also offers a claim advisory service. It is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.   For more information or to make a donation to The Willow Foundation please ring Sarah Smits on 01992 471001.