Issue 4 2009 > UK's Charity of the Year Macmillan Cancer Support
UK’s Charity of the Year – Macmillan Cancer Support
The Crown Relocations team in the UK has been hard at work this year, raising money for their charity of the year, Macmillan Cancer Support. Employees and service partners throughout the UK have been digging deep into their pockets and supporting the charity.
Macmillan exists to help improve the lives of people who are living with cancer and that of their families and caregivers. Unfortunately cancer is an all-too-common illness that affects one in three people, in the UK, at some stage in their life. Macmillan is both a source of support and a force for change. They also provide practical medical, emotional and financial support. The charity's primary goal for 2010 is reaching and improving the lives of everyone living with cancer.
Tour de Crown Cycles 699 Miles
Crown Scotland decided to launch "Tour de Crown," which took place over four consecutive Fridays. The challenge involved cycling 699 miles (1,125 km)—the equivalent of the distance between Crown Aberdeen (in northern Scotland) and Crown London (in southern England)—via each of the Crown offices on static exercise bikes. The entire team supported the event, including UK & Ireland's managing director, Barry Koolen, who took his turn on the bike and helped complete the distance.
After much hard work, sweat and sore muscles, the team completed the challenge with time to spare and in the process managed to raise a fantastic amount of money--just over US $1,625 (£1,000).
When the check was presented to Macmillan, the local newspaper, the West Lothian Courier, covered the story and included a photo of the Crown team.
Up Three Hills and Down Three Mountains
Members of the Crown Relocations UK team spent a weekend in northern England taking on a tough challenge. After considering a few suggestions it was agreed that the Yorkshire Three Peaks hike would be a suitably challenging activity to undertake while raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support. A team of 14 people from branches around the UK, with varying levels of fitness, accepted the challenge. Everyone gathered one Friday night in the village of Ingleton ready to tackle "the Peaks" the following day.
The challenge involved walking 24.5 miles (39.2 km) and reaching the summit of the three highest mountains in Yorkshire: Pen-Y-Ghent (2,276 ft./694m), Whernside (2,415 ft./736 m) and Ingleborough (2,372 ft./723 m). The team set off at 6.30 a.m. and was lucky to have ideal weather conditions for the day, with cloud cover it wasn't too hot and the rain held up until the very end of the day.
The first members of the group made it to the end in an amazing time of nine hours and 35 minutes, with the rest finishing at staggered times up to 12 and a half hours. The exhausted team with aching legs and several blisters to show for their efforts, later gathered for dinner.
Not only did the team achieve their goal of completing the challenge, but to date they have managed to raise more than US $5,675 (£3,500) for Macmillan Cancer Support.
More Charity in Motion
Employees from Crown London were asked to gather all of their unwanted items from home and donate them to a charity "car boot sale." Staff members were very generous with their donations, giving large numbers of clothes, shoes, DVDs, CDs, children's toys and electrical items. Two members of the Crown UK & Ireland Support Services team, Karen Carwood and Kirsty Collingwood, collected the items, called in some favors from friends and family, and spent a Saturday at a local car boot sale selling the donated items. By the end of the day everything was sold and a total of US $624 (£376.61) was raised.
Members of the Crown Worldwide Finance team, based in London, gave up their Sunday afternoon to bake delicious cakes, sweets and savory items, which they then sold to staff in the office the following day. A cake trolley was wheeled from desk to desk where employees were happy to part with their cash in exchange for cakes and biscuits. A total of US $455 (£274.87) was raised.
The team from Leeds also got involved in the baking action in September, by hosting a "green coffee morning" for all staff. As well as baking cakes and sipping tea from beautiful china cups, everyone decorated the office and wore green—the signature color of Macmillan Cancer Support. The team raised US $166 (£100) on the day; a fantastic achievement!.
Over in Scotland, one of the team members, Katrina Cameron, had earlier bought her father a helicopter ride as a present, but before he had the opportunity to fulfill his life-long dream he sadly passed away due to cancer. While he was ill, Katrina’s father had received much help and support from the Macmillan Cancer Support nurses, and as Macmillan is the Crown UK charity for 2009 he thought it would be fitting to raffle off the ride and have the proceeds donated to them.
Employees from across the UK purchased tickets and a grand total of US $455 (£274) was raised for Macmillan. Thanks very much to Katrina for her generous donation, and congratulations to Steven Osborne, winner of the prize.
For more information about Macmillan Cancer Support, please click here.