We’re delighted to share that P&O Cruises has hit an incredible fundraising milestone for Teenage Cancer Trust.
Thanks to your amazing fundraising efforts across ship and shore, we’ve raised a staggering £700,000.
This amount could fund an astonishing 23,000 hours of dedicated nursing care for young people facing cancer.
About the partnership
P&O Cruises partnered with Teenage Cancer Trust in 2015 and since then, we’ve been proudly fundraising for this extraordinary charity, predominantly through activities on board our ships and through donations from our generous guests.
This includes our popular flagship fundraiser, Trek the Deck, where guests donate £10 to take part in a 5km walk around the ship’s deck. Our crew have also been fundraising through a whole host of activities on board, such as spinathons and swimathons.
Celebrating with a special event
On Friday 28 April, we celebrated this significant milestone with a special event on board Britannia for young people affected by cancer.
We welcomed young people and nurses from Teenage Cancer Trust’s specialist unit at Southampton General Hospital onboard to enjoy a tour of the ship and have a delicious lunch, where they met P&O Cruises Food Hero and renowned chef, Marco Pierre White.
Paul Ludlow then presented the cheque for £700,000 to Teenage Cancer Trust’s director of engagement, Paul McKenzie.
“We are so proud to partner with Teenage Cancer Trust and support the incredible work it does for every young person facing cancer. The generosity of our guests and crew on board and colleagues in Southampton has surpassed our expectations and we cannot be more grateful to them. We have raised this huge sum of money, had a lot of fun along the way and hope we can continue to do so.”
Paul Ludlow, President, P&O Cruises
How we’re making a difference
Partnering with Teenage Cancer Trust for so many years has given them much needed stability. Seven years of unrestricted funding has given them the ability to plan for long-term for services and direct funds where it’s needed most; whether it’s the recruitment of new nurses or the funding of non-clinical support workers.
“We’re hugely proud of partnership with P&O Cruises and everything we’ve achieved together since 2015. The partnership has gone far beyond the confides of our hospital wards. Not only has it given young people facing cancer a once in a lifetime experience, but it has also engaged thousands of guests across the globe, providing unique, accessible onboard activities, improving health and wellbeing, and increasing awareness of teenage cancer on land and at sea all year around.”
Nat Price, Partnership Manager, Teenage Cancer Trust
What’s next?
We’re in our final year of partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust and our plan is to raise a further £100,000. We’ve raised £30,000 so far this year, so we’re well on our way to reaching our ambitious target.
As well as continuing Trek the Deck, we’re planning a number of other onboard fundraisers. We also have some exciting events in the pipeline, such as exclusive on-board charity concerts with Gary Barlow, where ticket proceeds will be donated to Teenage Cancer Trust.
About Teenage Cancer Trust
Every day in the UK, seven young people aged 13-24 are diagnosed with cancer. Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity providing the dedicated nursing care and support staff teenagers and their families need. With Teenage Cancer Trust’s specialist hospital ward at Southampton General Hospital just 15 minutes away from Carnival House and the cruise terminals, supporting the charity provides a brilliant opportunity to bring colleagues together for a cause close to home.
Thank you, again. We couldn’t have got here without you, or without the continuing generosity of our guests.
