Grafton Merchanting GB (GMGB) raised £129,339 for Macmillan Cancer Support in 2011, the charity’s centenary year.
To mark the completion of the partnership, staff who were keen fundraisers, representing three of GMGB’s principal businesses, Buildbase, Plumbase and Jackson Building Centres, visited Macmillan’s offices in London, to see how the money will be used.
The funds will go directly to the Macmillan Support Line, a free phone service staffed by cancer support specialists, providing support to 132,354 people affected by cancer every year.
“We’d like to say a massive thank you to all at GMGB for raising this fantastic total. In 2011 our cancer support specialists answered 131,204 calls and 1,149 emails from people who wanted questions answered, needed practical or financial support, or just wanted someone to talk to. The money raised by Grafton Merchanting GB has helped to pay for this service,” said Blanca Fernandez, head of the Macmillan Support Line.
Throughout 2011, thousands of GMGB employees raised money through events such as climbing Ben Nevis, serving bacon butties to customers, sponsored walks, runs and cycle rides, sponsored slims and skydives, whisky trails, football matches, fishing contests, washing customers’ vans, dressing up and dressing down.
Two cycle challenges contributed nearly £35,000 towards the total – a Buildbase team cycled 480km from London to Paris in four days and Jackson Building Centres organised a branch-to-branch cycle challenge in July. Michael Zielinksi of Civils & Lintels completed the Mexico Coast to Coast cycle challenge and raised £3,530, while a team from Plumbase climbed Ben Nevis to raise more than £3,500. Luke Williams from Plumbase in Bicester organised a sponsored walk, raising £3,755. Many of the branches took part in the GMGB Big Breakfast event, the builders and plumbers merchants’ equivalent of Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.
Visiting Macmillan’s offices were: David Grimsdale, Buildbase divisional director, who led the Buildbase London to Paris cycle challenge that raised £21,307; Luke Williams, assistant manager at Plumbase in Bicester, who organised a fancy dress fun walk generating over £3,700; and Jason Bates, manager at Jackson Building Centres at Sutton-in-Ashfield who arranged several fundraising activities.