Merseytravel staff have raised a phenomenal £30,000 for Clatterbridge Your Cancer Centre, their chosen charity of the year for 2011.
They threw themselves behind the campaign, donating time, effort and money, from forming a knitting group to competing in an Ironman challenge. At Easter they were overrun with egg cosies and in the run up to Christmas there were quite a few snowmen, Father Christmases, angels and tree decorations. One team climbed Mount Snowdon and others ran in the Liverpool Marathon.
Merseytravel staff nominate and vote each year for a charity, and Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, said: “This has been the most successful year of staff fundraising since we started choosing a charity in 2003. Staff are always thinking up different and ingenious ways of raising money and getting other colleagues involved.”
Neil Scales, Chief Executive, added: “Thanks to the generosity and hard work of our staff, we have managed to far exceed our expectations. 2011 has been an outstanding year of fundraising and our staff should be incredibly proud.“
Clatterbridge Your Cancer Centre is the only charity that raises funds to directly benefit the patients of Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, the leading cancer treatment centre for people in Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and the Isle of Man.
Kim Smith, Corporate Fundraising Manager at the charity, said: “We would like to thank Merseytravel staff for their hard work and generosity this year. The money they have raised will go towards helping Clatterbridge cancer patients throughout the region by improving the treatment, facilities and research that we provide to the 26,000 patients we see each year.”
Merseytravel staff have voted Calder Kids for their charity of the year for 2012.
Calder Kids Adventure Playground was opened in 1979 specifically for children and young people with disabilities aged 5 to 19 years. It offers a range of services including free play, youth and leisure activities, outreach and after-school services. The centre provides a much needed facility which enables children and young people to make an informed decision and choice about their leisure time, whilst maintaining a safe, healthy and stimulating environment.
Donna Trotman Manager of Calder Kids said: “We are absolutely delighted that Merseytravel staff have chosen us to be their charity of the year for 2012 and are looking forward to working together.”
Previous charities supported by Merseytravel are:
2011 Clatterbridge your cancer centre
2010 Sundowns (Supporting people with Down’s Syndrome and their families)
2009 Claire House Children’s Hospice
2008 CHICS (Children’s Cancer Support Group)
2007 Knowsley Family Link (SCOPE)
2006 Marie Curie Hospice Liverpool
2005 Stick ’n’ Step (Helping children with cerebral palsy)
2004 Ronald McDonald House at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
2003 St Joseph’s Hospice Thornton