UK Mail Donate to The Kelli Smith Appeal

March 13, 2012 - PRLog -- Parcels and logistics company, UK Mail, have helped raise money for The Kelli Smith Appeal by contributing an extra £1000 to the original funds raised by their Customer Service Agent, Patricia Evans earlier this year. Patricia, along with family and friends, put together a Family Fun Day at a local community centre and raised over £1800 including donations. UK Mail was quick to support her efforts and contributed an additional £1000 raising the total figure to an impressive £2800.

Patricia and the committee have been raising money for her 3 year old niece Kelli Smith who was first diagnosed with Neuroblastoma a form of childhood cancer at 3 months old. After months of enduring several rounds of gruelling chemotherapy and major surgeries Kelli was given the all clear. Unfortunately her remission was short lived and just 7 months later scans confirmed 3 new lesions in her abdomen.

There is no treatment protocol in the UK for relapsed Neuroblastoma; however there are options available abroad. Sadly these treatments could cost in excess of £500,000 if needed. Kelli’s family and friends have rallied round in preparation to set up The Kelli Smith Appeal with a committee meeting once a month to organise fun & innovative ways to raise the money.

Kelli is on a watch &wait schedule at present and if she doesn’t need the treatment then all that is raised will be donated to the charity FAN- Families Against Neuroblastoma who help families & children with relapsed Neuroblastoma.

The committee has been working hard to help raise the money by organising Family fun days selling refreshments and putting together jumble sales raising in total £1800. They’ve organised numerous upcoming fundraising activities which included another family fun day raising £1115, Shenstone Fun Run, fancy dress pub crawl and the British Gas Great Swim.

UK Mail was keen to support Patricia & the committee by donating £1000 to the cause bringing the total donation to an astounding £2800. Guy Buswell chief executive said ‘There are many charities close to everyone’s hearts for various reasons.   We want to show our staff we are committed to them and their campaign therefore donating extra money to their hard earned funds raised. We are delighted to be able to contribute towards some fantastic causes and look forward to strengthening our relationships with many more charities across the UK & beyond.’

And it doesn’t stop their UK Mail staff have also been showing their support by volunteering for fund raising activities with one member taking part in a sponsored head shave and growing a beard and another taking part in a sponsored sky dive.
If you want to support the appeal or have any new fund raising ideas simply log onto http://www.bmycharity.com/kellismithappeal.
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Notes to Editor:

UK Mail Group:
The UK Mail Group is the largest independent parcels, mail and logistics services company within the UK, offering quality, yet affordable, delivery solutions both locally and worldwide. With a national network of 53 sites and 3,000 drivers, it is able to offer customers a unique integrated service with a full range of time-sensitive and secure delivery options for letters, parcels and pallets. UK Mail is committed to pushing the boundaries of the post and express parcel delivery markets and continues to launch product innovations that deliver commercial advantage to customers.

Neuroblastoma:
Neuroblastoma is the second most common solid tumour in childhood, affecting just under 100 children a year in Britain. It is the most common type of embryonal tumour and is a cancer of specialised nerve cells. These cells are involved in the development of the nervous system and other tissues.  It accounts for 6% of childhood cancer registrations in Britain – just fewer than 100 children a year and is most common in children under the age of 5. The causes for Neuroblastoma are not known. It has the lowest survival rates .of all childhood cancers at 64%

FAN:
Solely dedicated to providing support, information and assistance in all aspects of dealing with Neuroblastoma, and we seek to fund specific research into cutting edge treatments of Neuroblastoma. FAN has undertaken a national awareness campaign called Cure Neuroblastoma for Me. We aim to educate the public about Neuroblastoma and its signs and symptoms and make Neuroblastoma a word that everyone understands. Please see our purple handprint for further details. FAN also aims to undertake any project that helps in the battle against Neuroblastoma. Please see our green handprint for further details.

Contact Details:
For further information please contact: Fahmeda Ahmed, Marketing Assistant, UK Mail, 0121 335 1190 or fahmedaahmed@ukmail.com