Willerby names Macmillan Cancer Support as charity of the year 2019

5 min read time

Willerby has named Macmillan Cancer Support as its Charity of the Year 2019.

Each year, we work alongside a chosen charity as part of our ongoing work to give back to the local community, and this year it was down to our employees to decide which cause would be supported in 2019.

Ensuring that we are positively contributing to the local community is at the heart of the business. In 2018, we worked with several local groups and charities, including Dove House Hospice. Alongside the infamous ‘Hull Bee Lady’, avid fundraiser Jean Bishop, Willerby provided new workwear to staff and volunteers at Age UK in Hull. The humble bumblebee is the company mascot at Willerby, and it is proud to be a corporate member of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, having distributed 30,000 packets of wildflowers across the Humber region in an effort to help rebuild bee habitats.

Over 20 charities were submitted for Charity of the Year 2019 by our employees, with Hull for Heroes, Samaritans, Hull and East Yorkshire Age UK, Dove House Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support all making the final shortlist.

Becky Read, Fundraising Manager for Macmillan East Yorkshire, said: “We are so grateful to Willerby for choosing us as their Charity of the Year for 2019. With their help this year we will be able to help and support more people with cancer in Hull and East Riding. Every year in East Riding & Hull, 2,274 people hear the devastating news they have cancer. The number of people living with cancer in this area is set to almost double by 2030.

“Macmillan is currently investing over £1 million into improving cancer services in East Yorkshire to fund a number of roles such as a Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse and three Macmillan Palliative Cancer Nurse Specialists. Thank you again to Willerby, we can’t wait to work with you to help change the lives of those affected by cancer.”

Willerby Finance Director Sue Allan said: “Working with a charity that is close to the hearts of our employees is very important to us. Throughout the year we’ll be running various fundraising initiatives, from family fun days to sponsored sporting challenges and more. We’re proud to be supporting Macmillan and its incredible work in the region.”