Devon-based independent filling station and convenience store retailer Julian Holliss has raised £7,500 for the NSPCC following the completion of a number of endurance feats. He is pictured presenting the cheque to Carrie Cardale,

NSPCC corporate fundraising manager for the south west. Julian, who runs Holliss Filling Stations, with three BP and SPAR outlets at Townstal Road Garage in Dartmouth, California Cross Filling Station near Modbury and Totnes Cross Filling Station at Halwell, raised the money for the NSPCC from a number of endurance events at home and abroad.

He decided to support the NSPCC after attending a SPAR international convention and being inspired by a speaker from the charity. “I went away with a feeling that I must make an effort to help contribute to this worthwhile cause and make a difference, no matter how big or small, for children who live in our streets,” he said. “Just because your own children sleep safely every night no longer seemed enough.

"The money raised will be donated to the NSPCC’s Child’s Voice Appeal, which aims to raise £1.6 million over three years to expand ChildLine services at its South West base in Exeter. I was shocked to hear how many children each year contact ChildLine, and to find out that the charity can only answer two-thirds of the calls that are made. Last year around 250 children called ChildLine from South Hams alone.
“I am grateful to everyone who has sponsored me and helped in any way towards my fundraising, with special mention to Linda and Adrian Booker for their endeavours,” said Julian.
Carrie said: “I would like to thank Julian for his support and commitment in raising such a fantastic amount. By raising £7,500, Julian will enable us to recruit and train four and a half Volunteer ChildLine Counsellors who will then go on to speak to 200 children in their first year. Businesses like SPAR make a real difference to our fundraising and we would love to hear from any local businesses interested in signing up to supporting the NSPCC. Corporate fundraising is a great way to encourage team-building and we work closely with the businesses that support us to make sure they get a lot out of the relationship too.”


Julian’s fundraising came from a series of events. In 2007 he took part in the 128 mile endurancelife Devon Coast to Coast event traversing the county by running, biking and kayaking, before running the three stage 78 mile Jurassic Coast Challenge along the Dorset coastal path. He also competed in the endurancelife one-stage 48 mile ultra marathon along Cornwall’s coastal path from the Lizard to Lands End. He then took on the daunting Norseman Extreme Triathlon in Norway which included a 2.5mile fjord swim, a 120mile bike leg over the Hardangervidda, Europe’s largest mountain plateau, and finishing with a 26 mile marathon run to the summit of Gaustoppen. During 2008 he completed the Garmin TransPortugal, a 1001km race traversing Portugal entirely off-road on a mountain bike.
For 2009, he is planning to join three other Dartmouth men on an epic John O’ Groats to Lands End adventure with a difference, geared this time towards raising funds for Dartmouth Mini Rugby Club.

He will team up with John Hart, plus Yorkie Lomas, Phil Langman, who were members of the winning fours team that rowed the Atlantic Rowing five years ago from La Gomera to Barbados in record time. Their plans for a John O’ Groats to Lands End cycling event in June will include excursions en route to run and climb over the three peaks of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, and kayak across three lakes - Windermere, Lake Bala and Loch Lomond.