NHS Blood and Transplant and Blood Cancer UK

In March 2016, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) colleagues chose Blood Cancer UK as their charity partner, a partnership which lasted 3 years and raised an incredible £60,000! Fundraising activities helped bring staff closer together while NHSBT charity champions dedicated their efforts in helping to raise awareness of blood cancer amongst their colleagues – they even organised specialist sessions with our researchers for their NHSBT scientists. With a very clear link between both of our missions and priorities, our partnership could only benefit both organisations.

Throughout the partnership, NHSBT helped to raise funds and awareness for Blood Cancer UK. In 2017, NHSBT colleagues held a Bake for Blood Cancer UK day, in which nearly 90 teams across the country including 18 donation centres held bake sales. Everyone became involved, including members of the public who made donations totalling nearly £7,000! A range of colleagues, including the NHSBT Executive Team, Board members and CEO also participated in the Blood Cancer UK Blenheim Palace Triathlon. Some offices also pulled in their family and friends together to assist with bucket collections at train stations as well as during the Calendar Girls performances – an experience they really enjoyed as many of them had been personally affected by blood cancer.

"I was really pleased that we were able to have such a successful partnership with Blood Cancer UK. This was the first time NHSBT colleagues voted together for a charitable organisation to support. Because of this, we found that colleagues were willing to give their all to help promote the awareness of blood cancer, blood donation while raising funds to support a very worthy cause. The values of NHSBT and Blood Cancer UK are very closely aligned so the work done to not only raise funds but promote awareness benefited everyone, especially patients affected by blood cancer. Well done everybody!"