Two employees from Aberdeen based FirstGroup took on a fundraising challenge with a difference this morning. The pair spent four hours (between 7am and 11am) bathing in a bath of baked beans at the concourse in Aberdeen railway station, one of the busiest spots for commuters in the city.
Avril Gill, FirstGroup’s, Marketing Manager and her Personal Assistant, Lynn Simpson, were raising money for the company’s national charity partner, Macmillan Cancer Support. Using 54 family size tins of baked beans – the pair submersed themselves in more than 77,400 beans. First Scotland East Bus Driver, John Lyall, also enjoyed a bath of baked beans at Waverley Station, Edinburgh.
The trio’s baked beans baths marked the first year of FirstGroup’s partnership with Macmillan. In July 2012 FirstGroup employees voted Macmillan as the company’s national charity partner and since then more than £475k in cash and kind has been raised by First and its employees for people affected by cancer.
“ScotRail’s commuters were really supportive and incredibly generous,” said Avril. “We had great fun, although baked beans are strictly off my dinner menu for the forseeable future!”
Talking about FirstGroup’s partnership with Macmillan, Avril continued: “We are very proud to support Macmillan and people across the UK who are affected by cancer. By raising much needed funds and awareness more people can take advantage of Macmillan’s fantastic services and not face cancer alone.”
Avril Gill and Lynn Simpson have set up a Just Giving site where people can pledge their support: visit www.justgiving.com/Avril-Gill1.