Over the years Perkins has developed a reputation for supporting charitable activities throughout Peterborough.

From its work with the Peterborough Environment City Trust to its sponsorship of the Perkins Great Eastern Run: and its support for Sue Ryder Care to financial donations to hundreds of city based charities and organisations, Perkins plays an important role in the local community.

A lesser-known fact is Perkins’ commitment to its charitable activities in China, which it has undertaken over the last three years.

Perkins, which has a manufacturing facility in Wuxi, China, has supported the Shanghai based Heart to Heart charitable programme since 2008, providing life-changing surgery to children suffering from congenital heart defects.

In that time six Chinese youngsters have undergone surgery, which has helped revitalise their lives and that of their families.

Among those helped by Perkins is five year old Rui Jin Yang, from Wuxi, who suffered from coronary heart disease (CHD); the narrowing of blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. The disease meant that Rui was unable to carry out even the simplest of daily routines.

Diagnosed with CHD soon after he was born, Rui desperately needed heart surgery to improve his quality of life.

Informed of Rui’s plight by the Heart to Heart charity, Perkins agreed to donate the funds needed to pay for his life-changing surgery. The procedure was undertaken late last year at a specialist hospital in Shanghai, and since then Rui has made a full recovery, enabling him to live life to the full and start attending school.

Dave Robinson, Perkins’ sales director in Shanghai, was keen to work with Rui after hearing about his story through Heart to Heart. “The past three years has seen rapid expansion of Perkins facilities in Wuxi, and the local team has also been engaged in a variety of community activities, including Heart to Heart.

“It’s been wonderful to see the difference we have made to these children’s lives and that of their families. They now have a chance to go to school, participate in sports and life a full life – it’s been a very rewarding experience.”

Perkins will support a further two operations this summer, helping another two Chinese youngsters to fulfil their dreams.

As well as the Heart to Heart programme, employees at Perkins’ Wuxi manufacturing facility are providing support for a sheltered housing scheme and embarking on a tree-planting programme to help improve the local environment.

Perkins is also making positive contributions to communities in Brazil and North America; where it also has manufacturing bases. Projects undertaken at these sites include school sponsorships, clothing donations and voluntary work for a range of charitable organisations.

PICTURE: Perkins' Dave Robinson pictured with Rui Jin Yang following the surgery.