Community Links
Great North Run
The tragic death of a young friend spurred Sharon Lomax to complete her seventh and last Great North Run half marathon - and she ended up a celebrity.It was a late entry for both Sharon and another friend Paula Goodson and finishing together, they clocked a time of two hours 30 minutes - just 20 minutes behind Sharon's husband George, also a veteran of all 25 Great North runs.
"Paula, a nurse in the Chemotherapy Day Unit at Sunderland Royal Hospital treated my friend and we wanted to do something to recognise the tremendous work the nurses do in hospitals, hospices and people's homes. We had a great day and between the three of us, we raised over £900 which the Company has made up to £1000," said Sharon.
"We had a fun day - and our aims to raise some cash and get on the television were met. We were interviewed by Sally Gunnell live on the BBC."
Under nine rugby
The rugby stars of tomorrow are being developed in Sunderland - thanks to support from Lomax.The Company sponsors Sunderland RUFC under 9s team which competes with teams throughout the country.
"You can never underestimate the importance of youngsters getting an early start in sport - its great for their development and there is no doubt they enjoy themselves," said Company Secretary Roy Stephenson, "Who knows we may be helping develop the Jonny Wilkinson of 2020."
The Company does have a particular interest in the Club - Matthew Lomax, son of Sharon and George, is one of the members.
School liaison
A group of 14 year olds will soon be undertaking their very own apprenticeship at Lomax in a joint project with North Tyneside Education Business Partnership.Around 26 youngsters will spend a full day with the Lomax team to explore the vocational type courses and training that could be available to them at the company's Howdon Utilities Training Centre.
Business Development Manager, Tracey Butler, hopes that an open evening will be interesting to the young people: "We are aiming to give them a taste of the kinds of things we can do with young people which will help them prepare for the world of work," she said, "If this first session is successful we hope it will lead to many more opportunities for us to work with schools.