The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) presented Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) with a cheque for £27,383 at its head office in London earlier this month.
Presenting the cheque was John Newcomb, chief executive officer of the BMF, June Upton, BMF events manager, and Christine Harding, former BMF marketing manager, whose grandson Billy received excellent support and care from TCT during his battle with cancer.
A spectacular array of prizes, including a Fiat Abarth 595 Tourismo car, auctioned at the BMF Gala Dinner held in Budapest, Hungary, helped to raise more than £62,000 for charity. The funds raised from the auction have been shared between Variety, the Children’s Charity and TCT, the BMF’s charity of the year.
John said: “We hoped to raise an exceptional sum for two very deserving charities and I am unbelievably proud of the industry for achieving even more than we ever imagined. I’m told that this is the highest sum our industry has raised for charity in a single night and I would like to thank everyone who contributed.”
Grace Higgins, TCT regional fundraising manager for West Midlands and Central, said: “This very generous donation will be put to excellent use by helping young people and their families deal with the many ways that cancer can affect a young person’s body, mind and life.
“TCT work in partnership with the NHS to bring young people together so they can support each other, doing it from the moment cancer is diagnosed until long after treatment is over. Right now we can’t offer our support to every young person who needs it, but thanks to donations like this, we are moving a step closer to ensuring no young person faces cancer alone.”