Last week, a handful of AO employees helped raise thousands of pounds for Kidney Research UK by embarking on a charity walk from the company’s main office in Bolton all the way to the AO Arena.
Setting out on the nearly 30-kilometre walk — 17.6 miles to be exact — nine AO staff members embarked on their journey from the online electrical suppliers’ headquarters over in Bolton to the city centre’s internationally renowned music, entertainment and sporting venue.
Taking them a total of five hours to complete the charity walk, including a short break to stop for ice cream in the hot weather (has to be done, doesn’t it?), they eventually reached their destination and smashed their initial fundraising target of £1,500 in the process.
All told the team of trekkers ended up raising more than £2,600 for Kidney Research, the UK’s leading kidney disease charity, and were treated to a congratulatory glass of champagne upon arriving at the AO Arena’s Electric Lounge. Well deserved.
One of those people is AO affiliate manager, Graham Murray, who spent a number of years on dialysis before his mother donated one of her kidneys to him two years ago and he thankfully underwent a successful transplant.
Having received plenty of support from the organisation in recent years, it was a no-brainer to choose them for the sponsored walk, and both he and his team were delighted to be able to give something back on one of their biannual ‘Make a Difference’ days, where they swap time at their desk for charity and/or community work
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Still relying on immunosuppression to keep his transplanted kidney healthy, Graham explained how “Kidney Research UK have been very involved in all of [his] treatments so being able to raise so much money for them made the walk more than worth it.”
A big congratulations to our acquisition team 👏
They walked from AO HQ in Bolton to the AO Arena in Manchester to raise money for Kidney Research UK 🥾🗺️
The walk was a mega 28 kilometres, and they celebrated with a glass of champagne at the AO Arena 🥂 pic.twitter.com/ySQYpEvuLb
As for the charity itself, community and events manager Ronan-Peate said: “It is always fantastic to see co-workers come together to take on a great challenge and raise money for charity particularly when it’s one that’s so close to their colleague’s heart.
“The AO employees have completed an amazing achievement and subsequently raised far more than their initial target and we are incredibly grateful for their determination and generosity.
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“The money that they have raised will go to supporting research to help more people like Graham by transforming treatments and helping us to one day live in a world without kidney disease.” Hear, hear.
It’s brilliant to see AO continuing its incredible charity work in and around Greater Manchester. The AO Smile Foundation is making a huge impact in the community and it doesn’t go unnoticed.
Three men jailed after armed robbery in Trafford left teenage boy with ‘serious injuries’
Emily Sergeant
Three men have been jailed after an armed robbery and stabbing left in Trafford left a teenage boy with ‘serious injuries’.
The incident in question occurred shortly after 3am on Sunday 27 November 2022, when a 15-year-old boy – the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons – was at a cash machine on Upper Chorlton Road, in Trafford, and he noticed a black BMW drive past him, before making a U-turn and pulling up on the other side of the road.
As the boy set off on his scooter, the vehicle sped past him and cut him off.
Before he knew it, three men jumped out of the car and then proceeded to rob him at knifepoint – during which the boy was stabbed twice, and £120 was taken from him, before the offenders made off.
The 15-year-old was rushed to hospital, where he was required to undergo emergency surgery before being stabilised.
Police described the incident as an ‘unprovoked attack on a young boy’.
Following a thorough Greater Manchester Police (GMP) investigation, led by DC Marie-Louise Knight of Trafford CID, the offenders were identified as Callum Henson and Harry Jackson, both from Manchester, and Bailey Mann from Northampton.
Henson was sentenced to five years and six months for robbery and Section 20 assault, and Jackson was sentenced to four years and 10 months for Section 18 assault, while Mann was sentenced to three years in a young offenders institute for robbery, due to being under 18 years of age.
Speaking following the sentencing of the three men, DC Knight said: “I am grateful that [Henson, Jackson, and Mann] have now faced justice for their actions, not only for ourselves from an investigation side, but also for the victim and his family who were left shaken following this incident.
“These sentencings show that we will not tolerate this type of violent crime.
“Knife crime has no place on our streets, and we will do all that we can to make sure offenders are punished, and our communities are safe.”
Featured Image – Google Maps
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Bolton man, 22, jailed after his ‘dangerous driving’ kills motorbike rider just days before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
A man from Bolton has been sentenced to more than a decade in jail after causing death by dangerous driving.
Cormac Sale, 22-years-old of Ina Avenue in Bolton, has been sentenced at Bolton Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving following a collision between a car and motorbike in Horwich, which saw another young man lose his life just days before Christmas (Saturday 14 December 2024).
At around 9:40pm that evening, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called out to an incident on Chorley Old Road in Bolton.
When they arrived, they found that a Skoda Fabia – belonging to Sale – had collided with a motorbike. Spencer Rothwell-Poole, also 22 and from Horwich, was riding the motorbike at the time and sadly died at the scene.
Following Sale’s arrest at the scene, further testing was conducted and he was found to be almost 10 times over the legal limit for ketamine whilst driving when the incident occurred.
Investigations by GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit led to ‘significant evidence’ being obtained of Sale ‘driving erratically’ throughout the evening, as spotted by multiple other drivers and CCTV footage, and he was also driving on the opposite side of the road when the collision took place.
Sale has been sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison, as well as being banned from driving for 12 years.
“This sentencing reflects the devastating consequences of choosing to drive recklessly and whilst under the influence,” commented Detective Constable James Maskrey, who is GMP’s Roads Police Lead Investigator.
“Nothing can undo the loss suffered by Spencer’s family, but it is our hope that this outcome offers some measure of justice.
“When someone gets behind the wheel under the influence of ketamine, they have no control of their own judgement or body, and even a moment where drivers are dissociated or unaware on the road can be fatal.
“This case is a stark reminder that dangerous driving destroys lives, and I want to reassure the public that our officers remain absolutely committed to tackling dangerous driving and removing those who pose a risk to our roads.”
Danny Jones -
1st August 2023 
