Early risers raise charity cash

Several staff and friends of Exeter PR, marketing and design agency Astley Media had an early start to their Bank Holiday Sunday after offering to volunteer at the weekly Matford Car Boot Sale.

The 11-strong team helped out with everything from collecting money on the gate and litter picking afterwards.

In return they received a substantial donation which will go towards the Exeter Chiefs charity, the Exeter Foundation.

The Exeter Foundation is a charity which exists only to support other local charities and among the many it currently supports are Exeter Leukaemia Fund, Exeter Age UK and Force.

Astley Media is a member of the Foundation 15 – a group of businesses who each season pledge to raise at least £1,500 for the charity.

And the team were faced with a 5.40am start to ensure everything went to plan.

They were joined by Viv and Miles Leonard from Exeter Symphony Orchestra, Geri Panteva, Economic Development Officer (Inward Investment, Employment and Skills) for Devon County Council and Tanya Frost, from Exeter College.

Astley Media marketing director, Caroline Orr, said: “Getting up so early on a holiday weekend was tough and the weather wasn’t too kind but we had a fun day and, more importantly, raised a lot of much-needed cash for the charity."

The Exeter Foundation is the Lord Mayor of Exeter Olwen Foggin’s chosen charity of the year and she paid a visit to Matford to personally thank the team.

The Lord Mayor said: “I am grateful to the Astley Media team and their friends for giving up their time to benefit others as so many other kind people across Exeter do week in, week out.”

Pictured from left are: Caroline Orr, Geri Panteva, Dan Pritchard (Astley Media managing director), Marc Astley (Astley Media CEO), Mile Leonard, the Lord Mayor, Viv Leonard, Vickly Glanville (Astley Media marketing assistant).