Gosport firm smash fundraising target for Macmillan

Gosport-based Aerial Direct passed its fundraising goal of £8,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support with events such as the Great South Run and cake sales helping with the donations.

The final amount handed over was £8,636.

The events started last May with Jordan Holloway’s beard shave, which raised over £2,000.

The following month saw a doughnut sale with the generous help of Krispy Kreme which raised several hundred pounds.

In September, the Aerial Direct quiz was held at Tiger Tiger in Portsmouth and thousands of pounds were raised.

The fundraising culminated with the Great South Run, which 24 members of staff successfully completed. Run times ranged from a swift one hour and 20 minutes through to two hours and 29 minutes.

Runner Kristie Rees says: ‘I didn’t do the race just for my own accomplishment, but because it’s a great cause.

‘When Aerial Direct said it wanted to run for Macmillan, I was all for it as my nan was cared for at one of its hospices.

‘They offered so much support for my family.’

Fellow runner Natalie Ward also has personal experiences of Macmillan. She adds: ‘I signed up to the Great South Run because we chose to run for Macmillan. My dad passed away in March after losing his battle with cancer.

‘The help and support he received from a number of charities, including Macmillan, was amazing.’

Lisa Murphy, Macmillan’s fundraising manager for Hampshire, says: ‘We are so grateful to the team at Aerial Direct for all the fantastic events they have put on to date.

‘I have been amazed at all the effort and the donations they have achieved.’