A CARLISLE business has raised thousands of pounds for the Brain Tumour Charity after the tragic death of a beloved colleague.

Telecoms provider Online Systems, based on Westmoor Road in Kingstown, began collecting money for the organisation last year after naming it as their chosen cause for 2019.

The announcement came in tribute to colleague Dave Holmes, who died in October 2018 after battling a brain tumour for almost a year.

Online Systems took on various challenges throughout the year, including creating a pop-up clothing store and charity fashion show, and holding dress-down Fridays to collect cash.

The team also took on the mammoth task of walking the Fairfield Horseshoe – which comprises climbing eight separate Wainwrights in one walk, lasting more than 10 miles in length.

After a full year of fundraising, the company has revealed it raised £5,400 for The Brain Tumour Charity.

Greg Morton, managing director of Online Systems, said: “Dave worked with us for 15 years. It was a massive shock to all of us when he sadly passed away.

“It felt only right that Online Systems should honour his memory in this way.

“I would like to thank everyone who participated in all of our fundraising activities and to those who donated.

“This brilliant donation to The Brain Tumour Charity would never have been possible without everyone’s amazing efforts and generosity.”

Kerry Roe-Ely, The Brain Tumour Charity’s community fundraiser for the north west and Northern Ireland, expressed the organisation’s gratitude for the hard work and generous donations from all of the staff.

She added: “We are so grateful for all the efforts made by Online Systems in memory of their colleague, Dave Holmes.

“As the UK’s foremost brain tumour charity, we are leading the way in fighting brain tumours on all fronts through our work and we couldn’t achieve this without the incredible efforts and determination of all our supporters such as the staff at Online Systems.

“Their commitment to raising funds through their fashion show, charity walks and dress-down days is very much appreciated.

“The amount they’ve raised, £5,400, will help fund more than 20 days of ground-breaking research into kinder and more effective treatments for those with brain tumours.

“We receive no government funding and rely 100% on voluntary donations, so it’s only through the efforts of companies such as Online Systems that

together, we will find a cure.”

Online Systems are in the process of choosing their 2020 charity of the year.

This year it will be a Cumbrian charity and they will be holding nominations with their staff early in the year.

To have a charity considered, contact Online Systems directly through their website, www.online-systems.co.uk.