BLOOD SAMPLING TESTS CAMBRIDGE ACCOUNTANTS’ GENEROSITY

Coordinator Sarah Nutland and Research Assistant Simon Hacking of the Cambridge BioResource have today joined PEM Office Manager Lynn Tilley to present a cheque for £450 to regional children’s charity East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice (EACH) – PEM’s charity of the year.

The cash was raised by some 45 PEM employees who gave £10 each for the privilege of donating blood or saliva to the Cambridge BioResource, a volunteer panel set up to assist medical researchers investigate the links between genes and common diseases such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Lynn said: “We were pleased to have thought of a novel way to raise funds for EACH, whilst taking part in a worthwhile community research project. And we didn’t even have to put our hands in our pockets to raise £10 each for EACH!”

Sarah said: “We were delighted that PEM approached us with 45 of their employees to join our growing base of more than 9,000 volunteers in the Cambridge area. It is vital for us to raise awareness of who we are and what we do and it is therefore fantastic that independent businesses like PEM back us up in this way - and also take the opportunity to support their charity of the year at the same time.

 “We normally give £10 shopping vouchers as a small thank you to every new member who joins. However partners and staff at PEM decided that, instead of receiving the reward, they’d rather convert their vouchers to cash and donate it to EACH. So we were more than happy to oblige!”

Liz Brinsdon, Corporate Fundraiser for EACH, said: “Staff at PEM have taken part in a number of fundraising activities since they chose EACH as their ‘Charity of the Year’, however, this is certainly the most unusual!

“We're hugely grateful to everyone who took part for their contribution - every penny raised will help us continue our work supporting life-threatened children and their families in the local area."