London Luton Airport (LLA) has named Macmillan Cancer Support as its new charity partner following a public vote.
The partnership will see staff from across the airport raise funds for the charity, including the annual runway run and golf day. Patients in the UK counties of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire will benefit from the fundraising.
Chika Austin, community relations executive at LLA, said, “Supporting the local community is important to everyone at LLA and through our partnership with Macmillan we all hope to make a difference to more people in the Bedfordshire area.
“The charity partnership is just one of many ways we make a positive impact locally. The Get Into Airports apprenticeship scheme and our Community Trust Fund also help support young people, local businesses and charitable organizations.”
Macmillan research shows that 83% people are, on average, £570 (US$811) a month worse off as a result of a cancer diagnosis. The charity has seen increasing demand for grants in the three aforementioned counties area in recent years.
The charity hopes that the new partnership will raise more than £80,000 (US$114,000) over two years, supporting over 400 local people with cancer. This will fund a substantial amount of the Bedfordshire grant program, increasing the number of people with cancer in the area that Macmillan can support.
Rich Quaife, corporate partnerships manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, commented, “The number of people with cancer is rising rapidly and by 2030 more than 39,200 people in the Bedfordshire area will be affected.
“We are seeing more and more demand for financial support, and our partnership with LLA will enable us to support more people and families in the local area.
“We would like to thank everyone who voted for us and look forward to working with LLA to reach our fundraising target.”