EMPLOYEES from a Worcester energy company paddled their way to raising more than £22,000 for charity in a 14-mile rowing event.
A team of around 100 staff from npower’s Worcester offices on Bridgwater Road, recently raised £11,423 for Macmillan Cancer Support when they took part in the ‘Paddle down the Severn’ event – with npower matching the funding to raise an overall total of £22,846.
Starting at Stourport Boat Club, the enthusiastic paddlers were led by 12 captains and boarded their twin-hulled bell boats, before racing and steering along the country’s longest river to the finish line at Worcester Rowing Club.
The company have been a charity partner of Macmillan Cancer Support for 13 years and after the race, staff continued their fund-raising late into the evening with a celebration of achievements and a quiz.
Daniel Belbeck, commercial manager at npower, said: “We all know someone affected by cancer. Only last year a member of our supply chain team lost his battle with cancer, so it was important for our team to be able to fund-raise in his memory.
“I was really excited about the challenge. It’s a long way to paddle and I knew our team wanted to try to win, so I knew it was also going to hurt a little along the way. But it was a great race and more importantly, it was great to be a part of such a fun and well organised event.”
Catrin Hale, senior partnership manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “To see so many turn out and raise such a huge amount of money was fantastic.
“We’re so proud of our 13-year partnership with npower and from the money raised we’re able to give people living with cancer grants to heat their homes when they have no other means.
“This means they don’t have to worry about their bills anymore and they can concentrate on getting better.”
