A HARROGATE fundraising and marketing company, Cause UK, has helped bring a piece of literary heritage of global importance to Yorkshire.
MD of Cause UK, Clair Challenor Chadwick, played an integral part in bringing a rare edition of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to the north Yorkshire town of Malton after broadcaster Selina Scott put out a plea to buy a rare edition of the book up for auction in New York last month. Miss Chadwick led the campaign to raise $43,750 (£27,280) in a matter of weeks to secure the book.
Cause UK achieved national attention taking the story nationwide on ITN News, BBC Breakfast, the Daily Telegraph and across regional media. It’s just one of many high profile campaigns the Harrogate company achieved in 2012, with projects featuring Rosemary Shrager, Marco Pierre White and Brian Blessed, all of which have attracted high profile media attention from BBC’s Inside Out, to the BBC World Service, Radio 4 Today Programme and national news.
Clair said:
Cause UK has a unique skill-set and tenacity to capture media attention on some important initiatives for Yorkshire.
We want to show that if you’re based in Harrogate, you don’t have to limit your vision or be parochial, we’ve used our creativity and drive to put Yorkshire projects, organisations and businesses on the national and international map.
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Selina Scott said:
I first heard about this rare treasure and its unique connection to Malton in September from an American friend. Before putting the book under the hammer, the New York auctioneers, Doyles, had researched its authenticity with Dickens specialists both here and in the US.
I immediately contacted two people who I knew had the talent and tenacity to help secure the book. Clair Chadwick, a tireless local charity campaigner, and Stephen Joll, a philanthropic local businessman, were as inspired as I was.
They worked like Trojans petitioning for funds.
Clair added:
This project just chimed with Cause UK and we knew we had the skill and tenacity to make it a reality. Dickens was a great social philanthropist.
We’re planning to spread that spirit, through education, the arts, charitable initiatives and community engagement.
This is a fantastic Christmas gift to Yorkshire and one Cause UK hopes to make a lasting legacy with the help of the Malton Dickens Society, the Hon Simon Howard and all the many others who clubbed together to make this great vision a reality.
A charitable initiative linked to the book’s arrival has been launched called ‘Keeping Warm with A Christmas Carol’.
To donate, or find out more, visit: www.dickensgifttoyorkshire.com
