Forresters helps raise more than £7,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support
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More than £7,000 has been raised for Macmillan Cancer Support by participants in Winchester’s unique Pedal Paddle Pace triathlon.
The Winchester PPP event saw over 100 competitors take part as they cycled for 20km out into the glorious Hampshire countryside, followed by an exciting 5k run and finishing with a 2km kayak.
The event, which we were delighted to support once again as headline sponsors, has now been running since 2004 and over £150,000 has been donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Organiser Mike Sharpe said the event had to be changed slightly and scaled back this year due to restrictions surrounding Covid-19. “This year’s event was a big success and it was great to see lots of familiar faces with many wearing PPP t-shirts from previous years, as well as a good contingent of first-timers,” he said. “It has been fantastic to have Forresters support the event again, they have been the headline sponsors now for several years. Their funding is so important to us because it means that every penny raised goes straight to Macmillan Cancer Support”.
“If ever we, as a committee, need a reminder about why we keep putting the effort in to make this event happen, we just listen to some of the stories we hear on the day. One competitor told us how having support from Macmillan has been invaluable after his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. They offer assistance and knowledge on all the questions and queries that crop up at 2am when no one else is around, and are that familiar face with kind words when you feel like everything has been turned upside-down.”
Ryan Howarth, relationship fundraising manager at Macmillan Cancer Support said that being diagnosed with cancer is frightening at any time, but the disruption and uncertainty caused by the pandemic is intensifying the experience for many. “The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the people we support, the environment we operate in, and our finances,” he said. “In line with other charities in the sector, Macmillan Cancer Support has seen a decline in income as a result of the restrictions imposed on our daily activities, and we are anticipating that our fundraised income will be down by as much as £175million by the end of 2022 – this is the equivalent of funding almost 3,000 Clinical Nurse Specialists for a full year”.
“We’re doing whatever it takes. But without your help we can’t assist everyone who needs us. Macmillan is 98% funded by voluntary donations, which is why we are incredibly grateful for the continued support of organisations like Forresters and the Winchester Challenge Events Group who organise the annual Winchester Pedal Paddle Pace.”
Attending the race were James Cornford and Hunter Annan from Forresters. James said: “We are proud to be involved in this fantastic event, which usually sees colleagues from our regional offices taking part. This year, one of our trainee patent attorneys Hunter participated and he did brilliantly, finishing in 28th position. Congratulations to everyone who took part – your efforts have helped raise thousands for Macmillan Cancer Support. We are very much looking forward to the event next year when, hopefully, more of us will be able to take part.”
