For decades, they have put themselves out to support worthy causes and done it in some wonderful ways – from wearing loud ties to cycling from Penshaw to Roker dressed as a pirate.
Here is just a small selection of photos of brilliant fundraisers from the Sunderland Echo archives. Are you pictured? Are you planning a fundraising event with a difference? We want to hear from you.
In the meantime, enjoy our retro photo selection.
![Keith Irving and Michael Lowe backed Loud Tie Week in 2006 but it was all in a good cause as they were backing the fight against cancer.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmRjNDkxOThiLTQ0YjItNDcxNC1iNGQxLWQ5Yjc3NGU1NGY2NDozMGIwY2Y2NS03MDUzLTRjYmUtYTE3MC1kYjljNDQ1NWVhZTk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Getting loud in 2006
Keith Irving and Michael Lowe backed Loud Tie Week in 2006 but it was all in a good cause as they were backing the fight against cancer. Photo: DA
![Back to 2010 where Catherine Smith was pictured at the end of her Penshaw to Roker charity bike ride dressed as a pirate. Who can tell us more?](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmJkMTc2YjM3LTQ1NGQtNGY3ZS1iMzgyLWNjNzg2Y2VmOWY2Mzo0ZDA5ZGQxOS00NDIzLTQ2YmEtODc4Zi0yMDczZDcxZjE0YjY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. You arrrgh brilliant at fundraising
Back to 2010 where Catherine Smith was pictured at the end of her Penshaw to Roker charity bike ride dressed as a pirate. Who can tell us more? Photo: se
![A charity cricket match between Go North East drivers and the Royal Artillery in aid of Help for Heroes. Pictured l-r are Alex Bonallie steward of The Gunners Club, Mary Street, Sunderland and drivers Stuart Nelson and Eddie Vietch. Were you there for the 2010 match?](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjUzMzFiMTE2LTExYWUtNDkyZC1iMDgwLWRlMWFjNTcwODQwOTo2ZDc0N2Y3Ny03NmQ1LTQ4NjMtYTA5My02MTI3MjU4ZTYxMjc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Owzat for a great event
A charity cricket match between Go North East drivers and the Royal Artillery in aid of Help for Heroes. Pictured l-r are Alex Bonallie steward of The Gunners Club, Mary Street, Sunderland and drivers Stuart Nelson and Eddie Vietch. Were you there for the 2010 match? Photo: KB
![Sunderland Football Club mascot Samson celebrated winning the league with a charity abseil from the roof of the Stadium of Light in 2005 in aid of the Anthony Nolan Trust.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjRmNmM2Y2M3LTIyMGEtNGFkNi1hNWViLTkyYjlmYTYyMjc0YjpmNTJlOTQ2ZC00NmU4LTRhM2QtYTdkZS02OGU2YTVkOWJlYzM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Samson scales the wall
Sunderland Football Club mascot Samson celebrated winning the league with a charity abseil from the roof of the Stadium of Light in 2005 in aid of the Anthony Nolan Trust. Photo: KB