The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has presented transport charity Transaid with a cheque for £70,000, representing the funds raised by its members over the past three years through the annual membership renewal scheme.

Transaid is an international development organisation that aims to improve people’s quality of life in the developing world by making transport more available and affordable. It works by sharing skills and knowledge with local people to enable them to put in place and manage efficient transport systems.

In total the FTA scheme has raised £211,300 for Transaid since it started at the end of 2009, giving members the option to make a donation along with their annual FTA membership fees.

The presentation was made by FTA Deputy Chief Executive James Hookham to Jo Godsmark, Chairman of Transaid, in front of 250 delegates at the final event in the FTA Transport Manager sponsored by Iveco conference series, which took place on 1 December at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Over 1,200 delegates have attended the 10 Transport Manager events since the conference series began in September – the highest number in the event’s history.

Mr Hookham said, “We are delighted that FTA members have shown such generosity and goodwill in raising this fantastic sum over the past three years in order to support the important work that Transaid carries out to save lives in Africa and the developing world.”

Jo Godsmark, commented, “We are delighted that the FTA and its members continue to support Transaid’s work to such a significant extent. These funds, together with support from the wider transport industry, are vital in allowing Transaid to invest in research into new transport solutions, such as our original work on the bicycle ambulances, and have allowed us to establish a series of effective HGV driver trainer programmes to combat the escalating problem of road deaths in Africa.”

Photo: James Hookham presents the cheque to Jo Godsmark