06-05-29 Pall-ex Partners Royal Event for Transaid

HRH Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, was guest of honour at the Transaid Spring Ball held on Thursday May 18th at the Waldorf Hilton on London's Aldwych. The exclusive charity fundraiser was co-hosted by Pall-Ex, the UK's No. 1 Pallet Network, and attracted guests including senior executives from the biggest names in the transport and logistics sector.

As one of Transaid's established supporters with its various fundraising schemes including the long-standing "Penny-a-Pallet" scheme, Pall-Ex acted as event partner helping to fund the black tie event in addition to generating significant sponsorship and support from transport and logistics suppliers Lampiers, Hyster and Barloworld.

An undoubted success, the 320 seat event was a rapid sell out when first promoted in autumn 2005 and raised over £30,000 in funding through a charity auction and guest donations. Pall-Ex will be making a further donation to Transaid in the coming weeks with its bi-annual "Penny-a-Pallet" contribution.

Special guests at the event included His Excellency Isaac Osei, the High Commissioner of Ghana, who encouraged guests to help back Transaid projects in Africa with financial and practical offers of help. Steven Norris, guest speaker at the event furthered the importance of invaluable transport and logistics training from Transaid helping countries get back on their feet and develop safe, reliable, transport systems.

The Princess, who is Patron of Transaid said: "I cannot stress too highly the vital importance of efficient transport and logistics solutions to support development in the world's poorest countries."

With a deep rooted interest in Transaid's lifesaving work, Pall-Ex Managing Director, Hilary Devey has just recently returned from a self funded five day visit to Ghana where she was able to see first hand a women in transport project examining daily transport and logistics issues facing female market traders in Accra. Hilary spoke about her trip to the Spring Ball guests highlighting the demanding environment and lack of resources available for the hundreds of women working 18 hour days to support their families. Hilary encouraged guests to launch equivalent "penny-a-pallet/£1 per truck/contract sold schemes to help the charity make a difference where it matters most, on the ground in Africa.

Hilary said: "We are delighted with the amount raised for the excellent work that Transaid is doing in some of the poorest countries in the world. I was able to describe to Princess Anne what I had been able to witness first-hand of the difference that is being made by providing transport solutions to help people build a sustainable living. It's what 'Making Poverty History' is all about."

Pall-Ex also runs a series of fund-raising events throughout the year culminating in the annual Christmas Dinner Dance which raises over £10,000 each year for the charity.