Surprise Award for Roadrunner Tyres Team

A tyre retailer’s fundraising efforts helped her raise more than £200 for the charity helping her teenage daughter live with ME. And Barbara Hodgkinson had double reason to celebrate at the Great Eccleston Agricultural Show, near Garstang, Lancashire, when her company, Roadrunner Tyres, also picked up a trophy for best trade display.

Employees from the Cabus-based First Stop dealership sold exclusive Bridgestone merchandise at the show to raise money for the charity AYME, which provides a national framework of support for young people with the chronic fatigue illness.

Visitors were attracted by a variety of props and vehicles promoting the range of specialist tyre services offered by the Roadrunner Tyres team. The display, dominated by a hyab-equipped truck that served as an impromptu flag pole, also wooed judges, who identified the stand as the pick of more than 100 packed into a busy show ground.

“The event was a major success all round,” said Barbara, who runs Roadrunner Tyres with husband Andy. “Our number one goal was to raise as much money as possible for AYME, which has really helped my 14-year-old daughter Jade cope with ME. We were successful in that respect, so winning the title of ‘best trade stand’ was an unexpected bonus.

“That said, our display must have made an impact because not only did we lift the trophy, we’ve also taken several calls from new customers who saw us on the day and want to do business.”

Andy Bucknall, business development manager for Bridgestone UK, added: “Events like the Great Eccleston Show are proving a useful platform for First Stop dealers to promote themselves locally, enabling potential customers to meet the team and see what the business is about. The Roadrunner Tyres team did themselves and AYME proud at the show, proving they are truly first class operators from both a business and charity perspective.”