CLOSE Motor Finance has raised over £20,000 for Cancer Research UK during the first three months of their new charity partnership.
The sum was raised by Close Motor Finance’s 400 strong team across the UK between May and July, through activities ranging from bake offs and ‘curry in a hurry’ business lunches, to marathons and squash tournaments, silent auctions and raffles.
Managing director of Close Motor Finance James Broadhead said: ‘We picked the month of May to kick-start our fundraising activities to raise money for Cancer Research UK and we certainly got off to a good start.
‘Our employees really got stuck in to lots of different events; we’ve been running marathons, organising sponsored walks, cycling the length and breadth of the country, playing in charity football matches and taking part in quizzes – and that’s not even half the list!’
The company has a number of employees called ‘charity champions’ throughout the UK who are responsible for spearheading fundraising. One team utilised their industry experience and organised a very successful car auction with local dealers getting involved by donating and buying vehicles, with all proceeds going to Cancer Research UK.
Broadhead added: ‘It’s been great to see everyone getting involved in such a varied range of fundraising activities and we plan to continue to build this charity partnership by raising as much money as possible for Cancer Research UK.’
Maria Haslam from Cancer Research UK commented: ‘We’ve enjoyed fantastic support from Close Motor Finance from day one of our partnership and have been impressed with their energy, dedication and innovative approach to fundraising for Cancer Research UK.
‘Thanks to the incredible progress that’s been made in the last 40 years, more people are surviving cancer than ever before. Today, half those diagnosed with cancer survive the disease for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress so that three quarters will survive cancer within the next 20 years.
‘And that’s why we need the continued support of our partners, like Close Motor Finance, so that we can achieve our ambition of beating cancer sooner.’
