Belvoir, one of the UK’s largest specialist residential lettings agencies, has smashed its one-year charity fundraising challenge, and raised over £16,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Belvoir MD, Dorian Gonsalves says: “I am very proud that Belvoir franchise owners have achieved so much in the past year. This was the first time that Belvoir had aligned itself with a national charity and the campaign launched with a Go Green Day on 1st February, 2011. Our initial target was to raise £10,000 for Macmillan, but this was achieved in just seven months. Macmillan is an amazing charity, and provides so much help and support to cancer victims, carers, families and friends.
“As well as helping Macmillan we wanted to involve Belvoir franchise owners in a campaign that would really unite the group and give us a common goal to work towards. I am delighted that Belvoir franchise owners and staff rose to the challenge with a wide range of fundraising events, including sky dives, sponsored bike rides, charity golf competitions and generously matching landlord contributions on a pound for pound basis. This achievement is even more remarkable when you consider that many Belvoir offices also support charities in their local community.
“Ellie Wallis from the franchise support team at Central Office and Reena Patel, our marketing manager deserve huge thanks and recognition for all the work they have done in coordinating the project. The campaign was so successful that the Belvoir group has decided to continue its alignment with Macmillan and our plans for 2012 will be announced in the near future.”
Gemma Shaw, fundraising manager at Macmillan said: “I am overwhelmed at the fantastic amount of money raised by Belvoir Lettings. From bike rides to golf days, from Go Green Days to sky dives – you really have surpassed yourselves.
“This huge amount of money will truly make a difference to those people who hear the words: ‘I’m sorry, you have cancer’. The money raised could be spent in a number of ways, however one example could be that £9,387 will run our CancerLine (0808 808 00 00) for a working week dealing with, on average, 760 calls and emails from people affected by cancer, providing them with essential information, practical and emotional support.
“Each and every penny raised really does make difference at Macmillan and a heartfelt thank you from me on behalf of all of us at the charity.”
Belvoir Lettings launched their Macmillan campaign on February 1st with a highly successful Go Green Day.
Since then many members of the Belvoir network have organised events and completed amazing fundraising challenges. Highlights of the campaign so far have included:
- Reena Patel, Belvoir marketing manager successfully completed a sponsored silence.
- Glenn Broadwell and his team from Belvoir Leeds North West completed the Shipley Stride.
- Phil Mathias from Belvoir Camberley ran a sponsored 10K road race.
- Jeremy Clarke of Belvoir Christchurch & Highcliffe cycled between every property on his books from Bournemouth to Milford-On-Sea near Lymington – in a single day!
- Rosemary Millican from Belvoir Macclesfield celebrated her 60th birthday by ‘swimming the channel for Macmillan’ at her local swimming pool.
- Ann and Steve Whalley from Belvoir Northwich held a charity golf match with sponsored tees.
- Charlotte Baker and the team at Belvoir Melton Mowbray completed a marathon sponsored 24-hour cycle ride in the office.
- Peter Johnson from Belvoir Skipton hosted a fundraising party for landlords.
- Claire Cook from Belvoir Newark conquered her fear of heights to perform a sky dive.
- Rick Flay and Sarah Powell of Belvoir Sheffield dug deep and generously matched voluntary landlord contributions pound for pound for nine months.
