Kwik Fit raises £300,000 for Prostate Cancer UK

Despite the impact that pandemic restrictions have placed on face-to-face fundraising, over the last year Kwik Fit raised more than £300,000 for its charity partner Prostate Cancer UK. With Covid-19 restricting the options for fundraising, the programme has placed a greater focus on online activity and staff participating in virtual and individual events. These included a team of employees from the company’s Fleet and Mobile division completing a “round the world” trip – walking, running and cycling a total of 25,734 miles and raising over £18,000.

The partnership is raising funds to combat the most common cancer affecting men in the UK. The funds are being used to raise awareness of the risks of prostate cancer, to support Prostate Cancer UK’s specialist nurses team, and help fund research into treatment and diagnosis, with a particular focus on developing an effective test for use in a national screening programme.

Raising awareness

Kwik Fit centres have remained open throughout the pandemic, and the company has taken advantage of this to raise awareness of prostate cancer with as many of its customers as possible. It provides information about the disease in its centres and displays the charity’s ‘Man of Men’ icon in its receptions, encouraging people to post photos on social media and prompt men in their network of friends to check their risk.

In addition, Prostate Cancer UK Man of Men pin badges have been available to customers in all centres, in exchange for either cash or card donations. Customers have also been able to add donations to orders made online at kwik-fit.com.

The company has more fundraising activity planned this year, depending on Covid-19 guidance, with potential activity including staff participating in Prostate Cancer UK’s bike rides to Amsterdam, the London Marathon and Great North Run, as well as Kwik Fit hosting a number of golf days and in centre activity.

An incredible job

“The past year has been very challenging for charity fundraising but our employees across the country have been committed in finding innovative ways to overcome these obstacles and we have made fantastic progress,” says Mark Slade, Kwik Fit managing director. “Clearly we all hope the pandemic continues to ease and this will help us broaden the range of activity we undertake. I thank all our staff for their efforts to this point and also give special thanks to all our customers and industry partners for their ongoing support.”

Nicola Tallett, acting chief executive at Prostate Cancer UK, adds: “Kwik Fit staff, their customers and partners have done an incredible job of raising a phenomenal £300,000. To do this in a year of such uncertainty shows real commitment and dedication to the cause. The awareness and funds raised will go a long way in helping Prostate Cancer UK achieve its goal: to stop prostate cancer being a killer. We thank everyone so far involved in this hugely successful partnership and look forward to the year ahead.”