Principality Building Society staff from Caerphilly have teamed up with Macmillan Cancer Support to raise tens of thousands of pounds for people affected by cancer in Wales.
Caerphilly branch, in the Twyn, will join the society’s 51 branches across Wales as part of Macmillan’s flagship fundraiser, World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, in September.
Staff at the Principality, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, voted to pick Macmillan as the society’s charity this year.
Principality’s Christine Bradbury, who nominated the charity for selection, said: “Macmillan is a charity that is particularly close to my heart.
“The Macmillan nurses did a wonderful job of looking after both my parents who were diagnosed with cancer – the care and understanding they offer not only to the patients but also to their families is immense and I know that any money we raise will help to ensure that others get the same support that I have experienced.”
The Welsh building Society joins a whole squad of welsh heroes that support the charity, including Wales rugby star, Mike Phillips, who recently got his kit off for a charity campaign to raise awareness of testicular cancer, in association with Macmillan Cancer Support.
Mike, who joined Principality’s Colin Lewis, to kick start their fundraising, said: “It’s great to see a well-established Welsh business lend their generous support to raise money for vital services in Wales.
“We recognise the importance of raising awareness and as much money as possible to support the hard work that goes in to helping both people diagnosed with cancer as well as their family and carers. I’ve been doing my bit for the charity and together, we can help to make a real difference to people’s lives.”
Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer. It provides practical, medical, emotional and financial support and campaigns for better cancer care.
Caerphilly branch manager, Andrew McGill, said: “We have teams of passionate and committed fundraisers across the business that have come up with a whole range of activities in the past, from skydiving, to fashion shows, to climbing Snowdon, to cycling the length of Wales – there are no limits to what they are prepared to do.
“Our very own Principality Charity Champion Colin Lewis will, weather permitting, be taking part in the Celtic Challenge – probably the world’s longest true rowing race, from Arklow in Ireland to Aberystwyth – a distance of about 90 nautical miles.”
Liz Cole MBE, area fundraising manager for Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “We are very excited and looking forward to working with the Principality Building Society over the coming year and are extremely grateful to them for nominating us as Charity of the Year 2010.
“We rely on the generosity of organisations like the Principality, who are at the heart of the community, to help us raise the money needed to fund all our services.”