Staff at Wake Smith have voted for Weston Park Cancer Charity to become their chosen good cause for the next year.
Employees at the Sheffield law firm will now spend 12 months raising cash for the charity through a host of fundraising events.
The team at Wake Smith visited the charity to learn about two key projects which will benefit cancer patients throughout the region – the Cancer Support Centre and the Clinical Research Unit.
Darren Hayes, business development manager from Weston Park Cancer Charity said: ““As the only dedicated charity for Weston Park Hospital, the charity exists to create a better life for those living with and beyond cancer.
“Through the dedicated and tireless efforts of our local community, corporate partners, donors and volunteers, Weston Park Cancer Charity has raised over £22million, since beginning in 1994, to improve the lives of those fighting cancer. We welcome Wake Smith to that essential team of fundraisers.”
Money raised from Wake Smith could help fund two key projects – the Cancer Support Centre which offers a free drop in service, complementary therapies, welfare advice and support, and the Clinical Research Unit, which has seen a 20 per cent increase in patients taking part in clinical trials thanks to charitable funding.
Kate Lax, solicitor at Wake Smith and charity board member, said: “The charity was picked after a voting process involving all staff. Everyone has indirectly or directly seen the devastating effect cancer can have on a family member or friend.
“More than 18,000 patients are currently under the care of Weston Park Hospital, which equates to over 150,000 individual patient visits each year.
“We have the next year to raise funds for the charity and are really looking forward to working with Darren and the team to help create a better life for people living with, and beyond, cancer.”
Weston Park Hospital is the region’s only specialist cancer hospital, providing care for thousands of patients across South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire – a population of almost 1.8million people.
The charity raises around £2million each year to improve the lives of people living with cancer.
The Wake Smith charitable board includes Kate Lax, Lorraine Slack, Bridie Mulgrew, Alison Gaddes, Abi Shortte, Laura Sanderson, Scott Haslam, Megan Craig, Jo Malcolm, Lauren Hance, Hayley Naisbett and Holly Dobson.
Last year the firm raised £4,600 for Thornberry Animal Sanctuary after holding fundraising events ranging from quizzes, raffles, cake sales, sweepstakes, monthly dress down days, social events and lunches, plus a successful office-based tuck shop for hungry employees.
