GB Railfreight and Blood cancer charity Bloodwise celebrate £62,000 fundraising achievement
GB Railfreight and blood cancer charity Bloodwise yesterday (26th January) celebrated their 18-month partnership by announcing that the rail freight operator had successfully raised just over £62,000 to help beat blood cancer, far surpassing the original £20,000 target.
In an event held at Devonshire Terrace in London, representatives from GB Railfreight and Bloodwise thanked supporters for their dedication to the fundraising effort through a series of events, including charter train trips across the UK, marathon runs, quiz nights, dress down days and many other company and individual challenges.
Some of the most notable moments for GB Railfreight included:
- The Bloodwise charter train journey for enthusiasts between Glasgow and Crewe on 9th August 2015, which raised a record £21,170
- The team charity skydive in September 2015
- The staff cycle challenge in 2014, which saw GB Railfreight Managing Director John Smith complete a 130-mile bike ride to Cambridge in fancy dress.
- Patient engagement event in November 2014, during which researchers, patients, friends and family came together to share their experiences of blood cancer.
GB Railfreight nominated Bloodwise (formerly Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research) as their Charity of the Year for 2014-15 in August 2014. The partnership was later extended to January 2016.
John Smith, Managing Director of GB Railfreight, said: “I would like to say a big thank to everybody for all their personal time, commitment and hard work in contributing to the many charity events and fundraising throughout the past 18 months.
“Bloodwise is a charity that is very close to my heart and we always encourage our staff to submit any charity nominations to be considered every year. A group of people within GB then reflect on these nominations and the reasons behind them to make a decision. It is always our intention to ensure we cover as many types of different charities as we can.”
“Raising over £60,000, when our initial expectations were set at £20,000, showcases the lengths many individuals have gone to promote the Bloodwise cause, and we are committed to continuing our fundraising efforts in the future.”
Cathy Gilman, Chief Executive of Bloodwise, added: “GB Railfreight colleagues have gone above and beyond to more than triple their original fundraising target for the charity. Their efforts are truly admirable and we are grateful for their support in helping us to improve the lives of blood cancer patients.”
