Blackburn: Company announces partnership with charity in honour of late employee

Mark Haworth, an esteemed colleague and manager of Thorite Blackburn, passed away in January in Royal Blackburn Hospital, following a cardiac arrest aged 57.

In the same month, Thorite’s IT manager, Philip Schroeter, also suffered a cardiac arrest.

Describing himself as fortunate to survive, Mr Schroeter used his health scare to urge people to learn basic CPR and to remind people that the survival rate for an out of hospital cardiac arrest is just 10 per cent.

As a result, and with its link to Blackburn, Thorite has chosen Heart Research UK as its charity for 2022.

(left to right): Richard Oldale, Stephen Wright, Isabel McKenzie, Kate Bratt-Farrar, Mark Yates

The charity invests in life-saving medical research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease, as well as supporting ground-breaking training and education.

The strategic partnership will see Thorite work to grow and expand awareness of heart disease, both internally throughout their 10 sites, but also through HRUK branding on their fleet of delivery and service vans.

The company will also run a calendar of fundraising activities throughout the year both, at its national distribution centre in Bradford and its trade counters around the UK, as well as supporting HRUK at sponsored events.

Stephen Wright, managing director of Thorite, said: “It is under regretful circumstances that we undertake our support of Heart Research UK. Mark leaves behind many good friends and work colleagues who will miss him dearly.

"However, we are looking forward to doing our part for heart disease prevention and awareness throughout Yorkshire and beyond.

"We feel it is our responsibility as a long established business to look after both our employees and the wider community in which we operate."