The team at McCarthy and Stone in Buckinghamshire has helped raise more than £250 million for Royal Voluntary Service, with which they partnered up in 2017 to celebrate the retirement housebuilder’s 40th anniversary. The North London region organised activities such as a 100km cycle ride, which raised an incredible £13,000.
Over the course of seven and a half hours, the team of cyclists stopped off at McCarthy and Stone developments in Biggleswade, Letchworth, Stevenage and Knebworth before returning to Hatfield, where homeowners, colleagues and family provided enthusiastic support.
To celebrate its milestone year, McCarthy and Stone employees and homeowners took part is a variety of events and activities throughout the year to raise funds for the organisation. An initial target of £130,000 was triumphantly smashed, and a cheque for £269,000 was recently handed over to the charity’s ambassador, and much loved dancer and choreographer, Wayne Sleep OBE.
“We are extremely grateful to all those who got behind our fundraising efforts; and the support shown by the team in Buckinghamshire who helped us to more-than-double our fundraising target. Throughout the year, there were some quite phenomenal fundraising feats from our teams of dedicated employees across the UK. From running the Berlin Marathon and tackling the Three Peaks Challenge to a gruelling Dragon Boat Race and epic cycle rides, so many people pushed themselves to their limits to boost the funds raised for Royal Voluntary Service,” said David Bridges, Group Sales and Marketing Director for McCarthy and Stone.
The kick-start of the 40th anniversary celebrations was represented by the Royal Voluntary Service’s GrandFest event, a national festival which celebrates talented older people and the diverse skills they can pass on through the generations.
“This is a phenomenal fundraising achievement. McCarthy and Stone’s wonderful employees and homeowners have gone to great lengths and worked very hard this past year to raise £269,000 for us. We would like to say a sincere thank you to them all. The funds raised will make a real difference to thousands of lives, helping to support the services we deliver in hospital, at home and in the community,” said Catherine Johnstone, Chief Executive Officer for Royal Voluntary Service.
