When fencing and landscape gardening business owner Addam Smith found out his employee Keith Ellick had been diagnosed with terminal cancer he couldn’t stand by and do nothing.
Knowing that Keith’s biggest worry was for the welfare of his family Addam, who owns ALS Fencing & Lanscaping, took to the popular Facebook group Builder’s Talk to see if he could raise some funds to help. He was overwhelmed by the response.
Addam had a target of £2000 in mind but within 24 hours of posting he had raised over £8,000 and he also started recruiting the group’s members to complete a DIY SOS style renovation of Keith’s home. Volunteers from across the trades and around the country, who Addam jokingly referred to as the Band of Builders (BoB), came together and within a week completely transformed the two bedroom house that Keith shares with his partner Sasha and five year old son Leighton.
But Addam didn’t stop there. The Band of Builders (BoB) name caught on and Addam has now launched a website www.bandofbuilders.com and shop selling BoB merchandise to raise further money for good causes with the first target being to raise £100k to buy Keith’s council house.
“But it’s not just about raising money,” explains Addam. “Many tradespeople are incredibly generous with both their money and time and Keith’s house makeover showed just what can be achieved when you channel that generosity.”
Addam has his sights set firmly on the £100k target for the moment but he recognises from the generous support he’s had for BoB already that its potential is huge.
The next step is to turn Band of Builders into a registered charity dedicated to helping tradespeople and their families in need.
Donate now and help Addam reach the £100k target.
Check out the BoB website and shop.