Cancer charity recognise golden achievement.
Ann and Rick Coleman, volunteer fundraisers and long-standing Moseley residents, have received an award from Macmillan Cancer Support this month in recognition of their exceptional efforts raising awareness and funds for people living with cancer over the last fifty years.
The couple are due to receive The Douglas Macmillan award at their home town surrounded by family and friends. The regional award was given to Ann and Rick in recognition of the dedication, passion, and devotion they put into fundraising and building awareness of Macmillan Cancer Support in the community.
On hearing they had won the award, Ann and Rick said: “We were touched by the lengths many went to in order to reach their own personal fundraising goal. This award deserves to go to all those involved with MOMAC50, including friends and family from all areas of Birmingham, London, Sussex and Cornwall. The whole experience has reaffirmed that the vast majority of the population is caring, compassionate, considerate and ready to help those who need it.”
Having lived in Moseley for fifty years, the couple wanted to celebrate this and their golden wedding anniversary by raising £50,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, calling the campaign MOMAC50. To achieve this goal, Ann and Rick devoted much of their time to contacting, supporting, and running fundraising events locally. The activities ranged from head shaves to bike rides, charity balls to baths of beans. By the end of their year-long campaign, the couple exceed their target and managed to raise £65,000 with the help of friends, family and the surrounding community.
Liz Sheils, Regional Fundraising Manager for Central Birmingham and The Black Country, says: “Macmillan was set up by a volunteer over 100 years ago, and our volunteers are crucial in helping us to ensure that everyone is supported through their cancer journey.
“We wanted to use Volunteers’ Week to say a well-deserved ‘thank you’ to all the people who give their time to help us. Throughout the MOMAC50 campaign, a large part of Ann and Rick’s goal was to bring a community together for a common cause, and they have done that in abundance. We are so grateful to them, and everyone who supported or took part in the MOMAC50 campaign.”
Liz added: “At Macmillan, we have a variety of volunteering roles and we always like to hear from people that might be interested in helping us out, because whether it’s minutes or months, hours or days, whatever time you can give really will matter.”
National volunteers week runs from 1st to 7th June. If you’re interested in finding out about how to volunteer for Macmillan visit www.macmillan.org.uk/volunteer, email [email protected] or call 0300 1000 200.
