SITA UK employees have raised £90,000 for the charity Macmillan Cancer Support (Macmillan) in one year, it has been announced.

Waste management company SITA UK chose Macmillan as its national charity in 2013 and, following a year of fundraising events, has raised £90,000 – enough to fund one Macmillan nurse and a Macmillan Cancer support officer for a year.

The money has been raised through events including bake sales, individual sporting challenges, male waxing, and a 2,400-mile cycle relay.

The Big Ride cycle relay was designed to include as many of SITA UK’s facilities as possible, beginning at SITA UK’s northern most site near Aberdeen in May and ending six weeks later at the southernmost facility near Land’s End. Around 300 SITA UK employees, including waste operatives and members of the board, cycled legs of the relay over six weeks.

Earlier this week, Chief Executive Officer of SITA UK David Palmer-Jones presented Macmillan representatives Michelle Martin and Jan Harris with a cheque for £89,984 – half of which was raised by The Big Ride.

SITA UK also directly donated over £8,000 to the charity after pledging to give £2.50 for every completed questionnaire received from an employee survey.

‘Partnership been truly incredible’

Palmer-Jones said: “I am absolutely delighted that our fantastic employees have managed to raise so much money for Macmillan over the last year, and I am very proud to be able to present Macmillan with a cheque for nearly double the amount we initially set out to raise.

“As a business with 5,500 employees spread across the country, we wanted to hold an event to bring our company closer together, and The Big Ride certainly did just that.”

Macmillan Regional Fundraising Manager Jan Harris added: “Our partnership has been truly incredible this year, due to the fantastic support from everybody at SITA UK. I would like to thank them for their hard work, dedication and energy.

“The staggering amount SITA UK raised will not only fund a nurse for a year but also a Macmillan Cancer support officer too. SITA UK has helped us make a huge difference to the lives of those affected by cancer.”

Find out more about SITA UK’s Big Ride cycle relay or the work of Macmillan Cancer Support.