Close Brothers Motor Finance employees have raised an impressive £34,000 for Make-A-Wish® and Cancer Research UK through a series of fundraising events.
In a year like no other, with Covid-19, social distancing measures and people up and down the country working from home, employees were challenged to think of other ways to raise money for charity.
Embracing the challenge, they collectively held a series of fundraising initiatives including hosting an online quiz, a Halloween trick or treat challenge and shopping at a Boo-Tique event.
Testing the knowledge of colleagues, the virtual quiz raised an impressive £1,300, while the spooky Halloween challenge saw colleagues walking a cumulative distance of 4,414km - enough to get them to Transylvania and back. Their charity efforts concluded with a shopping spree at our Boo-Tique experience, where through Make-A-Wish’s Amazon gift list and emailed donations, colleagues headed into the season of giving by purchasing much loved gifts. The value of all presents purchased during the week was more than £1,200. And this was matched by the business.
The money raised has been given to Make-A-Wish UK and Cancer Research UK – two important charities at the heart of the business. The £17,000 for Make-A-Wish will help to grant seven wishes for children living with a critical illness, while the £17,000 for Cancer Research UK could fund a research nurse for six months. Research nurses are clinical experts who raise awareness of trials, while supporting and monitoring patients during their treatment.
Close Brothers Motor Finance has supported Cancer Research UK for more than seven years through its annual charity initiatives. During that time, the business has raised half a million pounds for the charity’s lifesaving work.
Seán Kemple, Managing Director of Close Brothers Motor Finance, commented: “2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, but the impact to charities has been significant. Our colleagues across the business didn’t let the challenges prevent them from safely conducting initiatives to raise funds for two extremely important charities. Our employees from teams across the UK have worked tirelessly across 2020, taking time to give back and raise this fantastic amount to support those in need. It’s so humbling and I couldn’t be prouder, nor more honoured to work alongside such brilliant people.”
Georgina Fuoco, Corporate Partnerships Manager, Make-A-Wish UK commented: “We are so proud to be partnered with Close Brothers. We would like to say thank you to all the Close Brothers employees who worked so hard to raise £17,000 through their virtual fundraising week. Your amazing donation will help to grant 7 wishes for children living with a critical illness and for that we are incredibly grateful”.
