SWIFT DONATION FOR MACMILLAN
SWIFT GROUP Managing Director, James Turner, and some of the Swift team celebrate the company’s latest Macmillan donation.
Macmillan Cancer Support was grateful to receive £30,000 from the Hull-based Swift Group recently. Since 1995, Swift Group has donated to Macmillan through a recycling of goods scheme, whereby damaged or unsellable items are purchased by staff members, with monies coming to charity.
The company has also previously donated to Macmillan by hosting Macmillan Coffee Mornings and ‘dress down’ days. An outstanding £100,000 has been donated in total over the past 27 years. The UK’s largest manufacturer of caravans, motorhomes and holiday homes, as part of the fundraising, eco-friendly scheme, Swift employees have the chance to purchase any kind of redundant or surplus materials from offcuts of wood to slightly imperfect items, like a scratched microwave.
Swift’s Content Marketing Manager, Cheryl Whiten explained: “Pretty much everyone is affected directly or indirectly by someone living with cancer, so everyone here at Team Swift understands the importance and meaning behind this scheme.” Swift’s Managing Director, James Turner added: “It’s an absolute pleasure to support Macmillan’s incredible work.”
not only has great accommodation and a wonderful location, one of the things that keeps guests coming back are the facilities. The Oasis Fun Pools are one of the main attractions of staying on the park. The indoor pool has a river rapid ride to take your breath away, water cannon and geyser for a real soaking, then get drenched under the giant tap, fountains and waterfalls too.
Hendra chooses a charity each year to raise money for, and guests kindly donating an optional 50p on each booking. This is small change but makes such huge difference and last year, together with collecting tine on the park, raffles and other fund raising events Hendra raised a record-breaking £13,398 for Macmillan Cancer Support. This year the chosen charity is the Alzheimer’s society, which is the UK's leading dementia support and research charity. Another way Hendra’s guests help to make their stay green and sustainable is by ‘freecycling’ a facility provided on the park so they can leave behind unwanted holiday items like beach toys, windbreaks and BBQs at the end of their break for other guests to enjoy. The park actively encourages guest feedback, via surveys, reviews and social media, which is always valued and responded to. It’s vital to continue to make Hendra the holiday destination for future generations too, so it’s important to keep improving, developing and maintaining the Park, whilst being sustainable. It is a challenge, but one that’s relished by owners and staff.
A charity gala dinner held at Beaulieu during the annual Holiday Caravan and Park Home Show in September raised a remarkable £22,246 for MacMillan Cancer Support. An initiative by three of the manufacturers at the show – ABI UK, Carnaby Caravans and the Swift Group – the event was supported by four of the other manufacturers – Atlas Leisure Homes, Pathfinder Homes, Prestige Homeseeker Park & Leisure Homes and Stately Albion. The 300 guests, who came mainly from holiday and residential parks across the south of England, enjoyed a drinks reception in the worldfamous National Motor Museum before for a sumptuous three-course meal, during which they were entertained by performances from three outstanding magicians. The evening concluded with a hugely entertaining presentation by the brilliant ventriloquist, Nina Conti. Macmillan Cancer Support described the donation as ‘absolutely fantastic’ and said it would all be used to help people living with cancer and their families to receive 
essential medical, practical and emotional support. For example, it requires £21,510 to fund a Macmillan nurse for nine months. Meanwhile, Hendra Holiday Park, in Newquay Cornwall, handed over £13,398 to Macmillan Cancer Support, the proceeds from fundraising at the Park throughout the year. Janine Hyatt, Director, said: “We chose MacMillan as we want to help them continue their very important work of supporting people through cancer. This is the largest amount we have raised and is certainly the result of the hard work of Hendra team members. Our guests opted into making a donation with their accommodation booking, took part in fundraising activities and dropped cash into charity tins on the park, and we are grateful for their support.” Emma Wright, Senior Fundraising Manager: ““We would like to say a huge thank you to Hendra Holiday Park and all of their guests for raising such an amazing amount of money for Macmillan Cancer Support. “We want to help everyone with cancer find their best way through, from the moment of diagnosis, so they’re able to live life as fully as they can. That’s why this money is so vital to us and will make a real difference to those trying to find their best way through cancer with Macmillan’s support.”
Residents at Lamalech Park Estate have helped raise over £800 for Macmillan Cancer Support. They backed the owners of the park, Ruth Ross and Paul Lancaster, as they decided to tackle a gruelling 26-mile charity trek through the Lake District.
