The newest recruits to FirstGroup’s graduate scheme have embarked upon a charity fundraising challenge.
Between now and February 2018, two teams of five will compete to raise as much money as possible for the company’s UK charity of choice partner, Prostate Cancer UK.
To complete the challenge, the teams must plan a series of large and small events to meet their fundraising goals.
Last year’s graduates competed in a half marathon, organised collections on board buses and trains, and organised a charity football tournament at Huddersfield Town FC’s John Smith’s Stadium.
This year, the groups have been set a further challenge; to beat the previous record of £10,000 set by their 2016 predecessors.
Sian Hilling, Graduate Resourcing and Development Partner at FirstGroup, said: “The Graduate Challenge is designed to help our new graduates develop their communication, financial management and planning skills. By working as a team, they have an incredible opportunity to raise huge amounts for Prostate Cancer UK and help prevent more men dying from prostate cancer.”
Each team of graduates will receive just £100 in seed funding and will then set to work on creating a fundraising strategy. They must use those resources to bank, at the very least, £2,500 by the end of February 2018.
Thomas Stockdale, one of FirstGroup’s new graduate trainees, said: “It’s exciting to be involved in this year’s charity challenge, to raise awareness of the disease and funds for Prostate Cancer UK. One in eight men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime; that's 110 fathers, husbands and brothers every day, so it really is a cause that we can all relate to. Both teams will hold a range of events over the year, engaging staff and members of the public – hopefully we will educate people of the risks and raise as much money as possible for this great charity.”
James Beeby, Director of Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We are thrilled to hear of the ambitious plans for this year’s FirstGroup graduates, and wish them every success. Currently one man dies every 45 minutes from prostate cancer in the UK. That’s more than 11,000 men a year, and by 2030 prostate cancer is set to become the most commonly diagnosed cancer of all in the UK. With the continued support from FirstGroup we can raise more awareness, and fund research into better diagnosis and treatments – in turn making prostate cancer a disease that the next generation of men need not fear.”