SOS KIT AID on Track in 20th Year thanks to Big Yellow
The festive season is a time to celebrate for SOS Kit Aid who, despite many charities struggling due to the pandemic, have managed to complete 40 deliveries of much needed kit across the world as they mark their 20th year.
They even finally managed to see two big rugby kit deliveries made on the Pacific island of Fiji, despite one being held up in the Suez Canal and another due to the local lockdown.
These deliveries were made possible thanks to sponsorship from Jim Gibson, a passionate Fijian and the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Big Yellow Self Storage Company in the UK.
Said John Broadfott, SOS Kit Aid CEO: “Fiji is a huge rugby country but lacks facilities at the junior level. Thanks to Jim and fellow Fijian - UK shipping agent John Rasovo, SOS Kit Aid has been able to send a huge kit delivery to Fiji and intends to do much more in the future. The kit was then delivered onwards by Simon Raiwalui – Performance Director of the Fijian Rugby Union.
“Big Yellow sponsorship doesn’t finish there however. The company has also very generously granted SOS Kit Aid free storage in several Big Yellow locations across the UK, without which we would now find it very difficult to operate.”
In two decades SOS Kit Aid has sent £6 million worth of kit to more than 50 countries and more than a quarter of a million youngsters have benefitted. They also stopped 250 tonnes of used kit going into landfill and saved 1,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions by recycling used kit rather than manufacturing new.
Covid and Brexit created problems for a while but said John: “While the circumstances were very difficult we were determined to carry on, made our 40 deliveries target for the year and, with World Rugby funding, we aim to make another 40 in 2022.”
For more information: www.soskitaid.com.
