Macmillan Cancer Support, Travis Perkins and Benchmarx have announced a new charity partnership that aims to raise £3m for people affected by cancer, over the next three years.

This is the first time that two businesses under the Travis Perkins Plc brand have joined forces to support a charity partner together in this way, with such an ambitious fundraising target.

The partnership launch will see all 8,500 staff at the 600 Travis Perkins and 110 Benchmarx sites across the UK and its head office kicking off the partnership fundraising in style, with each site committing to raise enough money to ‘power an hour‘ of vital Macmillan support for people affected by cancer.

Throughout the partnership Macmillan will work with both brands on a series of targeted fundraising and cancer information campaigns for employees, customers and suppliers. Benchmarx and Travis Perkins are also helping the charity access a hard to reach audience, by providing cancer information and support via their communication channels to their employees, a majority of whom are male and would traditionally tend not to proactively seek information about cancer.

Andrew Harrison, divisional chief operating officer, said on behalf of Travis Perkins and Benchmarx: “We are delighted to be working with Macmillan, and even more so to see two great Travis Perkins Plc businesses joining together for the first time in this way. We look forward to the next three years of partnership, and working hard building the foundations of great cancer support, together.”

Alix Wooding, head of corporate partnerships at Macmillan, added: “Macmillan is delighted to have been chosen as Travis Perkins and Benchmarx’ new charity partner, and we look forward to working together to raise awareness, as well as vital funds for people affected by cancer. We want to ensure that no one has to face cancer alone, and without the support of partners like Benchmarx and Travis Perkins we simply couldn’t do this.”