Leeds-based Nexus Vehicle Rental, the UK’s leading tech driven business mobility provider, has seen the first year of its fundraising initiative for St Gemma’s Hospice raise more than £12,000 for the local charity.
Nexus’ partnership with St Gemma’s Hospice, Yorkshire’s largest hospice, was established in January this year, with a further 12 months of fundraising pledged by the rental firm. St Gemma’s was chosen as Nexus’ charity partner by its employees, following a previous partnership with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
The £12,000 has been raised through a number of activities in 2017 including team members taking on the gruelling Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge and competing in company football tournaments. The biggest haul came from a rowing challenge across Lake Windermere, with participants from Nexus securing over £3,200 in sponsorship.
CEO of Nexus Vehicle Rental, David Brennan, who took part in a 150-mile cycle ride for the charity earlier this year, said:
“We’re immensely proud of the work we’ve done this year to raise £12,000 for such an important cause. Our charity partnerships, previously with Yorkshire Air Ambulance and now with St Gemma’s, are a massive part of life here at Nexus. The team really get behind each and every event and it’s because of them that we’ve been able to successfully raise such a substantial amount – an average of £1,000 a month.
“Allowing the team to vote for a chosen charity partner makes it a personal endeavour for all of us and as a Leeds-based company, giving back to the Yorkshire community is something we feel extremely strongly about. It’s a real achievement for all of us.”
In order to gain an insight into how the charity operates and to offer first-hand support, Nexus has also donated 72 hours of volunteering to the St Gemma’s sorting hub, helping to organise charity shop donations and, through its own company ‘donation days’, has collected more than 130 bags of items for use in St Gemma’s shops.
Becky Hole, Corporate Fundraiser at St Gemma’s Hospice, said: “The support from Nexus and their staff members over the past year has been fantastic and we’re thrilled that they are able to continue supporting us for another 12 months. We’re so grateful for the £12,000 they have been able to raise as it directly helps us to continue providing the best possible palliative and end of life care to the people of Leeds with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.”
Based near Leeds, Nexus provides access to more than 550,000 vehicles across 2,000 locations through an unrivalled network of suppliers. The company won SME Employer of the Year at the BPP Professional Education Apprentice of the Year Awards in 2017, due to its ongoing work to develop the careers of young people in the Leeds area.
