SOUTHAMPTON-based P&O Cruises well and truly pushed the boat out and raised more than £600,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The cruise line has worked in partnership with Macmillan for the last two years, and the money raised by employees and customers will fund local projects to help ensure that no one has to face cancer alone.
P&O Cruises reached its total by fundraising in various ways and thanks to the generosity of their passengers, including taking on the Isle of Wight Challenge, and inviting celebrity chef Eric Lanlard to lead a head office bake-off for Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.
On-board events such as officer and crew fitness challenges and weekly coffee mornings involving customers helped boost the total.
One of the projects to benefit from the funds raised includes the new Macmillan Healing Garden at Southampton General Hospital, which, when complete, will be a tranquil place where people affected by cancer and their families can enjoy some peace and quiet together during treatment.
Simon Phillips, director of fundraising at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “I’d like to say a huge ‘well done’ to everyone at P&O Cruises for reaching this total and a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all the customers who took time on their holidays to get involved with fundraising too. At Macmillan we believe that no one should face cancer alone, and thanks to our partnership with P&O Cruises we can fund more services that help us to support people affected by cancer when they need it most.”
Gerard Tempest, chief commercial officer at P&O Cruises
Gerard Tempest, the company’s chief commercial officer, said: “I’m immensely proud of everyone here at P&O Cruises for raising £600,000 for Macmillan in just two years.
“I am also delighted to know the money we’ve raised will contribute to services right here in our local community, which is a truly fantastic legacy for everyone involved in the partnership.”
This year is set to be another busy year for the partnership, with the opening of the Macmillan Healing Garden at Southampton General Hospital and the 25th birthday of Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning in September.
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