KCOM : smashes fundraising target for Teenage Cancer Trust

16 June 2016

KCOM has raised over £92,000 in the first year of its charity partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust, more than twice the target set.

Fundraising activities have included the London Marathon, the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, skydiving, the Rock Solid Endurance Challenge and the Jane Tomlinson Hull 10K run.

As charity partner, KCOM supports employee involvement by kick-starting any fundraising they do with a £25 donation. In 2016 KCOM introduced matched funding, effectively doubling every pound raised.

KCOM employees have been supported by a network of more than 30 volunteer charity champions in the firm's main offices in Hull, London, Wakefield, Hemel Hempstead, Ipswich, Exeter and Reading.

Siobhan Dunn, Chief Executive at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: 'KCOM employees and their supporters have made a huge effort to raise funds for us, taking on marathons, scrambling up mountains, and even falling from the sky to smash their target. £92,000 is a truly awe-inspiring amount and will have a real impact on the services we provide, allowing us to fund our vital services and supporting us in our goal to reach every young person with cancer in the UK by 2020.'

The £92,000 raised could help Teenage Cancer Trust fund:

• 2,000 hours of vital nursing care by a Teenage Cancer Trust Lead Nurse, ensuring that young people with cancer receive age-appropriate care;
• 1,000 hours of tailored support by a Teenage Cancer Trust Youth Support Coordinator, who keeps young people active on and off the unit, encouraging them to socialise and share their experiences
• 40 young people to attend Teenage Cancer Trust's annual 'Find your Sense of Tumour' weekend conference at Center Parcs, allowing them to meet other young people with cancer, often for the first time

• 2,500 students in secondary schools, colleges and universities across the UK to have an engaging, upbeat cancer awareness session from Teenage Cancer Trust's education team, teaching them how to spot the early signs of cancer and how to prevent it in later life.

Bill Halbert, CEO, KCOM said: 'The first year of our three year partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust has proven to be one of our most successful yet. We are aiming to raise £150,000 over the course of our relationship to help the Trust provide expert care and support to young people with cancer and we look forward to smashing that target as well.'