Flybe, the UK’s Number One domestic airline, has today handed over a cheque for £153,373 to its charity partner, Cancer Research UK, representing the amount raised by its passengers and staff over the past year. Jim French CBE, Flybe’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, presented the cheque to Cancer Research UK Account Manager, Tim Rowland, at Exeter International Airport.

The amount raised by Flybe during this first year of supporting Cancer Research UK went far beyond expectations and included that donated by generous on-board contributions of passengers both on World Cancer Day 2009 and during the month of June: as well as funds raised by Flybe staff at the airline’s 14 bases throughout the UK from a wide variety of innovative fundraising events and sponsored activity.

 

Mr French said: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to contribute to the enormously vital work that Cancer Research UK does towards beating cancer. Our staff and passengers have given generously both their time and money over the past 12 months and as our partnership with the charity continues, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to raising these vital funds for this well-deserving cause.” 

 

In response, Mr Rowland expressed Cancer Research UK’s thanks for all the hard work everyone at Flybe had put into the partnership over the past year. “It’s been an amazing year” he said. “The fundraising total just kept going up virtually every day as the company’s charity champions across the UK e-mailed details of yet another success story. Everyone has done an amazing job and they can be confident that, because of their overwhelming support, they have contributed to the charity’s work to beat cancer.”

 

The handover ceremony highlights World Cancer Day, Thursday February 4th. when Flybe expects to raise thousands more pounds towards its 2010 contribution. The airline is again holding on-board collections on all flights operated tomorrow and staff around the Flybe network are also taking part in all sorts of additional fundraising activities from dress down days to cake sales. However, one of the most ambitious is in Jersey where 25 staff, including flight deck, cabin crew, engineers and managers, have already started a two-day sponsored 440-mile cycle event on equipment located in the airport departure hall.  The distance represents the mileage between the Channel Isle and Geneva, Flybe’s farthest destination from Jersey.

 

Concludes Mr French: “Cancer unfortunately touches almost everyone’s lives in one way or another and this is obviously part of the reason why Flybe staff and passengers have embraced our chosen charity partner with such enthusiasm and passion for raising as much money as possible for Cancer Research UK.”