Tea parties and cycling add up for cancer support

Nicola Lloyd and Kelly Punter work together a Argos in Portsmouth and roped in other colleagues to dig deep for Macmillan Cancer support.

The pair went all-out, hosting a series of fun events – from a pirate-themed fun day to a Mad Hatter’s tea party, with local businesses and members of the community donating generously to help them reach their impressive total.

In September, the entire Argos store team was involved in a charity static bike ride, with staff cycling more than 100 miles in one day to raise a further £280 for Macmillan.

The duo are already planning the next charity events with a quiz night followed by a staff Christmas party in the diary.

Miss Lloyd, sales team leader, said: ‘Keeping motivated to raise money for Macmillan is easy as it is very close to our hearts.

‘But we couldn’t have achieved such a fantastic amount without the support of our colleagues, family and friends.

‘We feel honoured to have helped such a worthy cause.

‘We both have our own reasons for supporting Macmillan.

‘Kelly lost both her grandparents and feels that the support the charity provides reaches beyond just the patient.

‘The help Macmillan gives has a butterfly effect which reaches friends and family too.

‘I have also lost some close family who I miss dearly, and Macmillan were such a great support to my family during their treatment, and after.

‘When it’s something so close to you, it’s easy to give a bit of your time and arrange these events to raise money for such a worthy cause.’

The money raised will fund 185 Macmillan nursing hours, helping to ensure that no one faces cancer alone.

Since voting to support Macmillan as their UK charity partner last year, Argos colleagues and customers across the UK have raised £1.5m, funding over 53,000 hours of Macmillan nursing care.