As M6toll Reaches its 26 Millionth Vehicle, Over £140,000 is Raised on Drive for Charity Day
The NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children), Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Staffordshire and
Warwickshire Wildlife Trusts will each receive a cheque for £36,000
today at a special celebratory lunch MEL is holding at Swinfen
Hall, close to MEL's HQ in Staffordshire.
Drive for Charity is already established and popular in Australia
where, on one day a year, MEL's owner Macquarie Infrastructure
Group (MIG) donates the net revenue of its toll motorways to good
causes. By following in MIG's footsteps MEL has managed to directly
benefit thousands of local people who live within easy access of
the toll with the money raised on the day.
David Harrison, director at MIG, said: "The Drive for Charity day
we have in Australia is well established now and we were very happy
that the event could be extended across the water and happen on one
of our newest roads, the M6toll".
Tom Fanning, managing director of MEL, said: "We're delighted with
the result, especially as it came on the same day as the 26
millionth vehicle used the road. I'm ecstatic that the money raised
will go towards such fantastic causes, which all have a direct
influence over the region in which the M6toll covers.
"The M6toll has already brought major benefits to the region in
terms of it's free flowing and stress free driving conditions, it's
great to be able to give back even more to the local community with
our Drive for Charity Day as the money raised will go to local
causes. We worked really hard with our chosen charities to organise
the day and the event at our motorway services was really well
received.
"We'd like to thank everyone who helped on the day and all our
supporters who helped make the event at the service area a success.
I'd especially like to praise our customers, many of whom donated
even more than just their tolls by giving extra at the service
area."
The amount the charities receive has been calculated by deducting
VAT and MEL's ongoing commitments with the County Air Ambulance and
the Green Arc Partnership.
The NSPCC is the UK's leading charity specialising in child
protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. Its work in
the Midlands includes a Young People's Centre in Chelmsley Wood and
the Staffordshire Children's Advice and Representation Service
helping children and young people growing up in the care of the
local authority. Last year over 11,000 calls were made from the
Midlands alone to its Child Protection Helpline 0808 800
5000.
Janine Miller, corporate fundraising manager at the NSPCC, said:
"We're so grateful to Midland Expressway Ltd and all its customers
for the fantastic contribution. The donation is one of the largest
we will see in the Midlands this year and will make a tremendous
difference to the lives of so many children we help and support
through our services in the local community".
Marie Curie Cancer Care provides free nursing care to cancer
patients in their own homes. Marie Curie hospices actively promote
quality of life for people with cancer and provide support for
their families completely free.
Susan White, fundraising manager for Marie Curie Cancer Care, West
Midlands, said: "We're absolutely delighted and would like to thank
Midland Expressway for choosing Marie Curie Cancer Care as one of
the beneficiary charities. We'd also like to thank the general
public for their warm support on the day. The money will be used to
support our Marie Curie Nursing Service throughout the West
Midlands including Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Staffordshire and
Warwickshire. Marie Curie Nurses provide 'hands on' care to
terminally ill cancer patients in their own homes".
The 47 Wildlife Trusts across the UK make up the largest UK charity
exclusively dedicated to conserving habitats and species and work
for an environment richer in wildlife for everyone.
Nigel Evans, regional corporate manager for both the Staffordshire
Wildlife Trust and the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, said: "Both
Staffordshire and Warwickshire Wildlife Trusts are delighted with
the excellent result of the first Drive for Charity Day. I would
like to thank MEL for including the Trusts in this commendable
initiative.
The Trusts will be directing this valuable source of income into
many of their respective Biodiversity Action Plans, which are
designed to target particular species and habitats with a view to
improving their current status across the counties."