Staff at the electronics company originally aimed to raise
£50,000 for the charity, which funds research, provides support and
information and raises awareness, but smashed its target by a cool
£30,000.
Employees got behind the partnership from the start, raising the
first £30,000 in only three months, with a whole array of
activities from a 'Hoedown at Sundown' event to a sponsored walk
and a racing day at Brands Hatch.
UK Managing Director, Paul Molyneux led from the front - taking on
an arduous feat of his own in support of the Sharp4Prostate
initiative. Along with a group of three others, Paul took on one of
the toughest endurance challenges in cycling, the Race Across
America (RAAM). The team peddled 430 miles per day in a four-man
relay, from West to East coast. Whilst one person cycled the others
slept in a moving van behind them, meaning they were in motion 24
hours a day for an entire week.
Appropriately, Paul handed over a giant cheque to the Charity's
Chief Executive, John Neate at the end of the final stage of the
Sharp-sponsored Tour of Britain cycle race on Saturday, September
18th, run in conjunction with The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour
Ride, which had almost 1,000 cyclists. The pair addressed crowds on
the podium after both events, in Newham, where amateur riders had
the opportunity to warm up the tarmac for the pro riders by trying
out an official stage of The Tour of Britain for themselves.
Paul said: "It has been a great privilege for Sharp to develop
such a strong relationship with The Prostate Cancer Charity over
the past 12 months. There is no doubting the great work the charity
is doing to shine a spotlight on this 'hidden' disease, which
touches so many people. It is also clear that the more funding they
can receive, the more they can do to raise awareness of what is the
most common cancer in men. Personally, preparing for and completing
the RAAM was a truly extraordinary experience, and it has only
given me an appetite for more. The Prostate Cancer Charity is still
Sharp UK's official charity partner, so watch this space!"
John Neate said: "The team at Sharp has really embraced the
Charity over the past 12 months and we were truly impressed at
their enthusiasm and dedication. As well as raising a fantastic
amount of money, £80,000 no less, the team also took the Charity to
their hearts, and the partnership also helped us to reach thousands
of people and increase their awareness of the disease. Paul's own
challenge must have pushed him to the limit and we are really
grateful that he put the Charity not only at the front of his mind,
but at the front of his employee's minds too."
Paul will now take on the Charity's Tour Ride in Stoke-on-Trent,
on Sunday, riding the full 161km distance. During the partnership,
Sharp became a sponsor of the professional Rapha Condor Sharp team,
broadening the Charity's links to the world of cycling. The team
will also get on their bikes at the Tour Ride on Sunday. Anyone
interested in joining them can visit www.tourride.co.uk.