24 hour charity challenge raises £2000

Left to Right - Hayley Cooke (Macmillan Fundraising Area Manager), Peter Armitage and Anne Pike (Macmillan Volunteer)

Colin Appleyard's Group Marketing Co-ordinator, Tracey Cooper recently handed over a cheque for almost £2000 to Macmillan Cancer Support, the company's chosen charity of the year.

The money was raised through a 24 hour sponsored Commut-a-thon which was undertaken by members of staff and customers on a Yamaha Vity 125cc scooter. They each completed a one hour ride and were joined by Coronation Street star Peter Armitage and Appleyard sponsored trials rider Phil Disney who volunteered to do the midnight run.

Prior to the event a raffle for the scooter had been organised and it was Phil`s lucky ticket that was drawn out of the hat. He then, very generously, donated the bike back to be auctioned on eBay. The highest bidder, who wished to remain anonymous, said it was the perfect opportunity to give something back to Macmillan following the fantastic care and support they had given to a family member.

The event, which started and finished outside the motorcycle dealer's Keighley showroom, proved to be fun as well as gruelling with many customers staying on well in to the night and offering to ride more than one stint.

The money raised was made up of the sale of the scooter on eBay, raffle ticket sales and a street collection in Keighley. eBay kindly refunded their selling fee as it was a charitable cause.

Hayley Cooke, Macmillan's Fundraising Manager for Bradford said: 'We are so grateful to Colin Appleyard for supporting Macmillan Cancer Support. Cancer is the toughest fight most of us will ever face. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed, you need a team of people in your corner supporting you every step of the way. Macmillan provides practical, medical, emotional and financial support for people at every stage of their cancer journey and we rely on our fundraisers for 97% of our income every year. That's why the help of companies like Colin Appleyard is so important to us. Every penny raised will help us to be there for people when they need us most.'

Tracey Cooper added: 'Many people within the company have been glad of Macmillan's support at one time or another and that is why we are more than happy to help such a great cause.'

Working alongside people affected by cancer, Macmillan Cancer Support works to improve cancer care. One in three of us will get cancer and two million of us are living with it. If you are affected Macmillan can help. For more information about Macmillan Cancer Support visit www.macmillan.org.uk| or call 0808 808 0000