On 4 August the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) presented the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) with a cheque for £27,383.20 at the charity’s head office in London.

Presenting the cheque was John Newcomb, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the BMF, June Upton, BMF Events Manager, and Christine Harding (former Marketing Manager of the BMF), whose grandson Billy received excellent support and care from TCT during his battle with cancer.

An array of prizes including a Fiat Abarth 595 Tourismo car, auctioned at the BMF Gala Dinner held in Budapest, helped to raise more than £62k for charity. The funds raised from the auction have been shared between Variety, the Children’s Charity and Teenage Cancer Trust, the BMF’s charity of the year.

John Newcomb, CEO of the BMF, said: “We hoped to raise an exceptional sum for two very deserving charities and I am unbelievably proud of the industry for achieving even more than we ever imagined. I’m told that this is the highest sum our industry has raised for charity in a single night, and I would like to thank everyone who contributed. I must also thank Martin Randall, chairman of the Crystal Clear Group, whose donation of a limited edition car caught everyone’s imagination and made such a significant contribution to the evening’s overall fundraising.”

Grace Higgins, Teenage Cancer Trust Regional Fundraising Manager West Midlands and Central, added: “We are extremely grateful to the BMF and to Crystal Clear Group for its support. This very generous donation will be put to excellent use by the Teenage Cancer Trust by helping young people and their families deal with the many ways that cancer can affect a young person’s body, mind and life.

“The Teenage Cancer Trust works in partnership with the NHS to bring young people together so they can support each other, doing it from the moment cancer is diagnosed until long after treatment is over. Right now we can’t offer our support to every young person who needs it, but thanks to donations like this, we are moving a step closer to ensuring no young person faces cancer alone’.

Picture caption: Left to right: Grace Higgins (Teenage Cancer Trust). June Upton (BMF), John Newcomb (BMF), Christine Harding (former BMF) and Hailey Amani (Teenage Cancer Trust).