Member Article

Pair take on gruelling challenge to fundraise for cancer charity

A pair of local amateur cyclists joined forces to complete a gruelling work based challenge in aid of a national cancer charity.

Michael Fleming and Terry Barker, who are both from Sunderland and work at EDF Energy, Doxford International Business Park, cycled on static bikes for eight hours without rest to raise funds and awareness of Breast Cancer Now.

The energy company has teamed up with the charity, which is the UK’s largest breast cancer charity, in an ambition to raise a total of £450,000 over three years through fundraising activities.

Michael and Terry hope raise over £1,200 for Breast Cancer Now and have already almost reached the total thanks to contributions from family, friends and colleagues.

Michael said: “It was a tough challenge but it was worth it to raise funds and awareness of the charity. We all know someone who has been effected by cancer in one way or another so this is a great charity to get behind and support.

“Our colleagues are always very supportive and it was great for them to donate and cheer us on.”

Kevin Gatens, head of customer services in the North said: “The Doxford team always put their all into fundraising and supporting the company’s charity partners. They always go the extra mile, push themselves to do something challenging and different and Michael and Terry were no exception - not a lot of people could cycle for eight hours without a break.

“Breast cancer is something which has affected a lot of people, and we are looking forward to continuing our success in raising money to support research and treatment to help the charity reach their target of preventing all breast cancer deaths by 2050.”

Breast Cancer Now fund research into the disease, with the overall aim to develop a cure so that by 2050 everyone diagnosed with breast cancer will live.

The company-wide partnership between EDF Energy and Breast Cancer Now, which began last year, will run for three years with an aim to replicate the success of its last partnership with Marie Curie.

All funds raised will help Breast Cancer Now continue to fund lifesaving research into breast cancer, focussing on prevention, early detection and diagnosis, treatments and secondary breast cancer.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by EDF Energy .