Former England rugby star kicks charity partnership into touch
22 January 2010
Occupiers at Goodman’s Hammersmith Embankment development were greeted by former England Rugby Union star Will Greenwood today, to mark the official launch of a new partnership between BETFAIR and The Anthony Nolan Trust that is aiming to earn the charity a lucrative £150,000 over the next 12 months.
Anthony Nolan won the Charity of the Year position with the betting giant after securing the majority in a staff vote, and will benefit from a fund matching scheme for every pound raised by employees. The official launch, celebrated at Betfair's Hammersmith and Stevenage offices, saw ex-England rugby legends Will Greenwood and Richard Hill kick-off the year long partnership.
Greenwood said: “I’ve long been a supporter of The Anthony Nolan Trust because without the work of this tremendous organisation thousands of people simply wouldn’t be here today.
“I’m very proud to be able to continue to support their work and I’d encourage everyone to do the same - you simply never know when you or a family member might really need them. I am sure the partnership between Betfair and Anthony Nolan will be a huge success.”
Betfair employees will have the opportunity to take part in Anthony Nolan fundraising events, such as abseils, dragon boat races, marathons, and a skydive. The charity also aims to set up recruitment sessions to give staff the opportunity to join its bone marrow register.
Betfair’s CSR Manager Georgina Corbett added: “Betfair is thrilled to announce the Anthony Nolan Trust as our Charity of the Year for 2010. We have set ourselves an ambitious fundraising goal as well as targets to raise awareness, recruit donors to the register, and share skills to ensure that we can support this fantastic cause in as many ways as possible.”
There are 1,400 people in the UK and 16,000 worldwide in need of a bone marrow transplant, which is usually their last hope of survival in the fight against leukaemia and other blood related diseases. For more information, log onto www.anthonynolan.org.uk or call 0303 303 0303.
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Notes to editors - about Betfair:
Betfair is the world’s biggest online betting community and pioneered the first successful betting exchange in 2000. Driven by cutting-edge technology, Betfair enables customers to choose their own odds and bet even after the event has started. The company now processes over six million transactions a day from its two million registered customers around the world. In addition to sports betting, Betfair offers a portfolio of innovative products including casino, exchange games and poker.
Betfair has twice been named the UK’s ‘Company of the Year’ by the Confederation of British Industry and has won two prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise, being recognised for Innovation in 2003 and most recently for International Trade in 2008.
Betfair currently employs over 1,500 people, principally in London, Malta and Tasmania. The company is a licensed betting operator in the UK, and holds licenses in Australia, Germany, Austria, Italy and Malta.
Notes to editors – about the Anthony Nolan Trust:
The Anthony Nolan Trust takes back lives from leukaemia by managing and recruiting new donors to the UK’s most successful bone marrow register. The Anthony Nolan Trust also undertakes vital research leading to improvements in the effectiveness and safety of bone marrow transplants.
There are 16,000 people worldwide and 1,400 people in the UK in need of a bone marrow transplant.
There are just over 400,000 people on The Anthony Nolan Trust’s register, but it’s not enough. We are always looking for people to join the register, particularly young males and people from all ethnic minority backgrounds.
To join the register you must be aged between 18 and 40, weigh more than 8 stone (51kg) and be in general good health.
Andy Lulham
Head of UK Sports & Marketing PR
Betfair
Office: +44 20 8834 6629
Mobile: +44 7515 198 451