In a two-day initiative that combined aviation and charity, 30 employees from Howden UK & Ireland participated in a wingwalking event above Cirencester, generating £32,000 in support of Maggie’s, the organisation’s chosen UK charity partner.
The employees, secured to the wings of vintage biplanes, flew at approximately 100mph in an organised fundraising activity designed to contribute to the ongoing work of Maggie’s cancer support centres.
The flight event coincided with the first year of the two-year partnership between Howden UK&I and the charity.
The relationship between the two organisations has so far produced £489,000 in donations, which go toward delivering Maggie’s services across its network of UK-based centres and its digital platform.
The charity offers emotional, practical and social assistance to individuals with cancer, as well as their families and support systems.
Howden UK&I’s CEO for Corporate & Commercial, Warren Dickson, acknowledged the collective participation of staff in the event, saying that their involvement showed the lengths employees were willing to go to in support of Maggie’s.
"We’re incredibly proud to support Maggie’s and our colleagues have collectively raised a phenomenal sum of money to help cancer centres up and down the UK continue to deliver the services that so many people and families rely on at a difficult time during their lives,” said Dickson.
Maggie’s head of corporate partnerships, Adam Feder, said the amount raised would contribute meaningfully to the organisation’s operations.
"I really enjoyed meeting people from Howden on the day at the event and seeing how committed everyone was to take on the challenge for Maggie’s,” said Feder.
Other organisations that have supported Maggie’s include Sterling Insurance, which organised a golf tournament last year, and BIBA board members, who held cycling events to contribute to the cause.
While the wingwalking portion has concluded, the company has confirmed that donations through its dedicated fundraising page remain open to the public.
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