Strensham Star Triumphs In Charity Fundraiser
A philanthropic member of the team at Roadchef’s Strensham Motorway Service Area (MSA), on the M5, has braved a head shave for Cancer Research UK and raised a massive £1,380 in the process.
Laura Williams, Assistant Unit Manager at the Fresh Food Café and The Cornish Bakery came up with the idea following the death of her grandmother from cancer. She managed to persuade a friend and two colleagues – Roadchef’s Strensham Site Director, John Korner and Site Director Designate, Kirk Butler – to shave their heads too and thanks to the generosity of colleagues, family and friends, was able to her hit individual fundraising target of £100, 14 times over.
Laura commented: “It was a crazy idea, but I couldn’t be prouder of what we have all achieved. I’ve done lots of fundraising activities in the past but none as successful as this one, and it means a lot to me to raise money for a charity that has been incredibly close to my heart since the death of my grandmother.
“We are very lucky at Roadchef to work for a company that cares so much about helping others. Every year we are challenged to set ourselves fundraising goals and I’m so pleased to have achieved mine already, with eight months of the year left to go!”
Mike Jackson, Director of Supply Chain Management and Head of Charity at Roadchef, said: "Laura is an absolute star to Brave the Shave, and to do so to fundraise for our charity partner, CRUK is nothing short of incredible. More than ever before, the whole Roadchef business is truly onboard with our charity initiatives this year, which highlights that as individuals we all share the company's core values. I am confident we will soon reach our next milestone of £3m, and it will be thanks to Laura and all of the Roadchef team that we realise this achievement".
Mark Fox, CEO of Roadchef, added: “We’re extremely proud of Laura and what she’s achieved in aid of Cancer Research UK. The team members at Strensham are clearly passionate about supporting each other and the charity’s life-saving work. This is a true reflection of Roadchef’s values and is something that is replicated across the entire company; being caring and compassionate towards those in need is built into everything we do, and we firmly believe it should be the responsibility of every large organisation. I’m really looking forward to seeing what fundraising challenges the team sets themselves next!”
Cancer Research UK is Roadchef’s charity partner with the charity naming the MSA operator as the ‘Corporate Fundraising Team of the Year’ as part of its Flame of Hope annual awards ceremony earlier this year.