Generous Sunderland customer service employees have helped raise over £10,000 in just a year for the UK’s biggest breast cancer charity, Breast Cancer Now.
Employees at EDF Energy, Doxford International Business Park, came together to raise a total of £10,047 through a range of initiatives, including bake sales, raffles, sweepstakes and quizzes, to help fund Breast Cancer Now’s vital breast cancer research.
In 2016, EDF Energy teamed up nationally with Breast Cancer Now in a bid to raise £450,000 by September 2019. Since the partnership began in October 2016, a total of £225,336 has been raised by EDF Energy sites nationwide, excluding an additional match funding donation of £100,000 from EDF Energy.
The money raised will go towards helping the charity meet its ambition that by 2050, everyone who develops breast cancer will live.
Kevin Gatens, Head of Customer Service North East, said: “The EDF Energy Doxford site has been very passionate about raising money for this cause. Breast cancer is something which affects so many people and we hope that by raising money for Breast Cancer Now’s research we can play our part in helping to put a stop to this dreadful disease.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has taken part in our fundraising efforts, not just our employees but also the local community who have taken the time to support us. With our charity partnerships, we try to raise awareness, as well as much needed funds for the charities we choose. It also provides some excellent team building and personal development opportunities for our 1,400 employees here.
“Regular fundraising has brought our employees closer together, and I have no doubt we at EDF will be able to continue to exceed our £450,000 target for Breast Cancer Now over the next two years.”
EDF Energy employees nationwide voted to support Breast Cancer Now following a successful campaign for Marie Curie, which raised £945,000 though employee fundraising and match funding.
Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive of Breast Cancer Now, said: “We’re delighted to be working so closely with EDF Energy and we are so grateful for their pledge to raise an incredible £450,000 for Breast Cancer Now over the three year partnership.
“Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in the UK, which is why it’s so important that we continue to fund research to put a stop to this devastating disease. EDF Energy and its employees have been so enthusiastic about fundraising for Breast Cancer Now’s cutting-edge research and we’d like to say a big thank you to everyone involved for their dedication and support.”
According to the most recent published statistics by the Office of National Statistics, people in the North-East are the most likely to be diagnosed with cancer, with 1,700 cases recorded last year in Sunderland alone.
