UK Mail’s ‘special delivery’ for Cancer Research UK

May 9, 2012 - PRLog -- Leading parcels and logistics company UK Mail have raised a total of £83,083 for the year 2011/12 for Cancer Research UK.

Parcel Pete, brand mascot for UK Mail’s consumer brand ipostparcels.com, made a ‘special delivery’ to Professor Nick James from Birmingham’s Cancer Research UK Centre to mark the mammoth fundraising success.

Professor Nick James works on Cancer Research UK funded research into bladder cancer, and accepted the cheque on behalf of the charity.  

During the past 12 months, UK Mail have been raising money for their chosen charity Cancer Research UK through a variety of methods including staff sponsorship which UK Mail double the amount of money raised by a member of staff. Payroll lottery scheme is another method employed by UK Mail, where staff choose to pay £2 each month to enter a payroll lottery, each month £1 from each person goes to CRUK and the other £1 goes to the winner.  £77,461 of the total donation came in through UK Mail’s penny per consignment scheme where 1 penny is donated to the charity from every direct debit customer who sends a consignment.

The money raised has helped fund vital lifesaving research such as the bladder cancer research carried out by Professor Nick James. The success of the trial – led by The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and the University of Birmingham – could mean fewer patients need their bladder removed and provides a viable alternative for frailer patients who are too weak for surgery.

Bladder cancer patients are given low doses of chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy were nearly 50 per cent less likely to relapse with the most lethal form of the disease compared to those given radiotherapy alone.

Study co-leader Professor Nick James from the University of Birmingham, commented ‘ these results really provide a lifeline for those too old or weak for surgery and mean that, in future, fewer patients will need their bladder removed.

“We are extremely grateful to UK Mail staff and customers for raising such a large amount for Cancer Research UK. Our research here at the Birmingham Cancer Research UK Centre is just one example of the kind of groundbreaking work supported by such fundraising.”

UK Mail’s chief executive, Guy Buswell, said, ‘Central to the UK Mail Group’s philosophy is the need to place society’s needs at the heart of its business strategy. With cancer impacting the lives of so many - including a number of our employees, customers and their close friends and relations, Cancer Research UK is a charity we are passionate about and delighted we can help fund lifesaving research’.

Parcel Pete the brand mascot for UK Mail’s new customer facing next day collection and delivery service, presented the cheque to Professor Nick James outside Cancer Research UK’s Birmingham Research Centre.

ENDS

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.

About Cancer Research UK:

•Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research
•The charity’s groundbreaking work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives. This work is funded entirely by the public
•Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival rates double in the last forty years
•Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses
•Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK’s vision is to beat cancer
•For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 020 3469 6699 or visit http://www.cancerresearchuk.org

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