UK freight association dinner raises £10,000 for charity

The Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice charity is set to receive a donation of £10,000 from the British International Freight Association (BIFA) following fundraising at the trade association’s annual Liverpool region charity dinner.

Around 300 BIFA members, their guests and local stakeholders gathered at The Hilton Liverpool City Centre, where they were joined by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Richard Kemp MBE and the Lady Mayoress, Councillor Erica Kemp MBE.

BIFA regional chair, Keith Baguley of ACL Grimaldi Lines welcomed everyone to the new venue for the event, which is a well-established part of the freight industry’s social scene on Merseyside.

He appealed for support for the chosen charity, having explained that Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice faced an uncertain future in 2024 having failed to secure the funding required for new premises.

Baguley explained: “After a frenetic campaign, the initial £5 million fundraising target was reached, and the future of the hospice was assured. But the work that Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice does to support babies and young children who have complex illnesses or disabilities from birth to age five, needs constant funding.”

On behalf of BIFA, Baguley thanked the sponsors of the event: GenCo Logistics, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, Peel Ports, Seacon SG and Unsworth; as well as the following companies who donated auction lots: Cardinal Maritime, ACL Grimaldi Lines, Maersk and Peel Ports.

Steve Parker, BIFA director general concludes: “Attending the annual dinner of the BIFA Liverpool region gives all present a great opportunity to network with the carriers, port representatives and other strategic partners within the global supply chains managed by the trade association’s members. It’s great to have such a platform to raise funds for a very worthwhile charity.”