ROSEANNE Finch, Farnham’s Hexagon Healthcare showroom manager, and Sharon Blight from Aldershot who has Parkinson’s, teamed up on a ‘scooter-a-thon’ and other various fundraising activities to collect £1,000 during Parkinson’s Awareness Week last month.

Hexagon is a committed supporter of local charities and with the help of regular customer Sharon, they have raised funds for the Farnborough branch of Parkinson’s UK during the charity’s national awareness week.

Roseanne, the Hexagon team, Sharon and their friends and family all pulled together to bake for a week-long showroom cake sale, collect donated prizes for an in-store raffle and complete a four-hour mobility scooter fundraising journey from Farnham to Fleet and back.

Roseanne and Sharon drove rugged 8mph TGA Breeze S4 and Vita X mobility scooters respectively alongside the Basingstoke canal via well-known local locations such as the historic Aldershot barracks, Duke of Wellington statue and Farnborough Airport.

‘Inspirational Super Sharon’, 56, from Aldershot, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s over eight years ago but has continued to raise funds for charities – this latest challenge was the hardest yet.

She said: “Last week was so full-on but I enjoyed every minute, Roseanne is so great to work with. I feel like we haven’t stopped all week and the scooter-a-thon was really tough as it was so bitterly cold, made worse by my condition.

“However Roseanne kept my spirits up and supported me all the way along with her friend Mark Head, and husband, Shaun Finch, who works for TGA mobility scooters.

“They cycled with us and at one stage even enrolled the help of road workmen to escort us across a busy road – these council workers gave us a donation too. Driving our TGA Vita and Breeze S4 mobility scooters with off-road capabilities definitely made the challenge easier as they are so supportive and comfortable.

“Despite the cold I got a real buzz from all the fundraising and I would like to thank everyone who supported us through donations, prizes and cakes. In addition to the money raised, the press and local awareness achieved will help highlight the support Parkinson’s UK can offer to locals living with the condition.”

Roseanne added: “It was fantastic to see so many people in our showroom throughout Parkinson’s UK Awareness Week. There was a fantastic atmosphere during the final event when we hosted a drinks reception following the scooter-a-thon. Members of the Rotary Club, Parkinson’s UK and many local residents can to support us and listen to Sharon’s emotional thank you speech.

“As leading companies both Hexagon and TGA Mobility believe that supporting charity is imperative as part of our social corporate responsibilities. Many businesses and individuals also donated some fantastic prizes for our raffle – a great team effort locally to help raise £1,000 for Parkinson’s UK.”