As the season of goodwill gets underway, generous Northumbrian Water workers are marking ten years of support for hundreds of local cancer patients and their families at Christmas.
In the last five years alone, employees have donated nearly 350 Christmas hampers filled with vital food supplies and gifts for North East charity, FACT (Fighting All Cancers Together), which helps anyone who has been affected by cancer in anyway.
This year, around 80 hampers have been collected and are being distributed by the charity to deserving families across the region in time for Christmas.
Carolyn King, who works in Northumbrian Water's Supply Chain Management team, and coordinated the company's donations and collection effort, said: “We’re so proud of all of our people who’ve helped us to make this long-standing achievement possible, taking the time to put food and gift hampers together every year and help spread a little Christmas cheer to families affected by cancer.
“We know it’s been particularly important these last two years, where COVID19 has caused additional stresses for many families and we hope we’ve been able to make a difference over the festive season.
“FACT is a charity close to our hearts and do amazing work helping anyone affected by cancer. It’s been a pleasure to support them over the last decade and we look forward to continuing this in future.”
Joanne Smith, Founder and Chief Executive of FACT Cancer Support, said: “The support we have received from the staff at Northumbrian Water over the last ten years has been incredible!
“They work so hard to fundraise to help us to look after so many of our FACT families every year and their personal approach to pulling the hampers together is second to none!
“This type of long-standing relationship works so well for both organisations. FACT benefits from the support offered, but it has also raised awareness of the services we provide and when staff at Northumbrian Water, or their families, have themselves been affected by cancer, they know where to find us. We hope that we can continue to work together for many years to come!”
Northumbrian Water has supported many local fundraising efforts through its Cheque It Out employee funding programme and its volunteering scheme, Just an Hour, which allows employees to give a minimum of 15 hours every year to support community and charitable causes close to their hearts.
For more information on how Northumbrian Water supports its local communities, visit: www.nwg.co.uk/responsibility/community