Harborough tree surgeon took time off to take Christmas trees away and hand the money over to charity

A big-hearted tree surgeon has raised 900 for an anti-bullying charity by carting away peoples Christmas trees.

Dan Fordham took two days off earlier this month to collect and dispose of an impressive 90 trees as he got behind HAB-anti-bullying.

Delighted Dan, of Knoll Street, Market Harborough, said: “My wife Becky set it all up and my colleague Ryan Holt came out with me.

“We mainly picked up old Christmas trees in Harborough but also went out to Kibworth and Kettering and the villages.

“The anti-bullying group’s a fantastic cause and we’re just so pleased we could hand over so much money.”

The hard-working dad-of-two said they carried out a similar scheme to help a Harborough school two years ago.

“We raked in £485 that time.

“But this year it went absolutely bonkers,” said Dan.

“The response has been magnificent.

“I’ve got two kids and I’d hate to think they were being bullied so we’re thrilled to be able to do this.”

Marie Connor, 43, who founded HAB ant-bullying in 2012, said: “We can’t thank Dan enough – he’s been brilliant.

“Tree surgery is a tough physical job and for Dan and his team to give up their own time for us like this is immense.

“We are so grateful because this money is our day-to-day lifeblood and keeps us going.”

She said the £900 shot-in-the-arm would pay for 18 sessions of crucial one-to-one counselling for bullying victims.

“We have five private counsellors we refer to and six people, including two adults, receiving help at the moment,” said Marie, of Naseby Close, Harborough.

“Last year was our busiest yet, we really took off.

“We helped hundreds of people, both in Market Harborough as well as in the surrounding villages.

“We have 20 adult volunteers and 24 youth team helpers who are the very backbone of our organisation.

“We’re now looking for office space and storage because 2020 is going to be even busier.”

She said Harborough football club Borough Alliance are going to wear the HAB anti-bullying name on their shirts.

“It’ll be incredible publicity for us and the club have been great while Starbucks donated £1000,” said Marie, who launched the venture after her son Daniel was brutally beaten up by bullies.

“We’ve also become a registered charity so it’s onwards and upwards for us over the next 12 months.”