AS sponsors of the Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club, Hitachi Construction Machinery UK has teamed up with Synergy Hire for the second consecutive year to raise funds for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, following the success of last year’s efforts which raised £5,352.31.
Established by the late Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir, a former Falcons player and a resilient fighter against Motor Neurone Disease (MND), the foundation continues its crucial work to support further research into the disease.
HCMUK has designed and branded another ZX130LCN-7 13-tonne class excavator in the Doddie tartan, with the unique machine joining the fleet at sister company Synergy Hire where it will be available to rent. They have committed to contribute a proportion of the rental income from this digger to the charity each quarter during 2024.
David Roberts, CEO at HCMUK, said, “Hitachi Construction Machinery UK have a long history with Newcastle Falcons and so we are very aware of how celebrated Doddie is at the club, and the legacy that he has left. We are delighted to support the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation again in 2024 in partnership with our sister company Synergy Hire and hope they can raise even more vital funds for the charity.”
Lee Scott, financial controller at Synergy Hire, added, “Synergy Hire are proud to be supporting this great cause again for the second year in a row. Having another one of our Hitachi excavators branded with My Name’5 Doddie Foundation is brilliant as will be a major talking point on job sites and more importantly will continue to raise awareness of MND.
“We have donated £5,352.31 so far from our hire revenue of the first branded excavator and are really pleased to be able to add further to the fund with donations from our hire revenue of this second excavator as well.”
Rebecca Thompson, senior commercial manager at Newcastle Falcons, commented, “Doddie Weir is an icon whose influence extends well beyond rugby circles, and it’s fantastic to have the visually striking branding of his foundation displayed in this way by Hitachi Construction Machinery. We are proud to be in partnership with such a great company, and having this visibility will help ensure the message of My Name’5 Doddie continues to be seen far and wide.”
