By majority vote, Marie Curie was crowned UNTHA UK’s charity of the year for 2023/24. Over the past several months, we’ve therefore plunged a tonne of time, energy, and motivation into this extremely worthy cause.

Having raised a grand total of £8,892, we’re proud as punch to see those efforts come to fruition. We hope the donation will go some way towards helping the end-of-life charity further its frontline nursing and hospice care. The funds will also help to boost resources behind its free support line, and continue to support the UK with critical health information services, as well as death and bereavement counsel.

But which activities helped drive the fundraising tally? Here’s a recap of the highlights…

We donated for every shredder sale 

A jam-packed events calendar saw the team endure a series of gruelling indoor and outdoor activities, in aid of Marie Curie. However, in order to maintain momentum, we knew we needed something less physically taxing to keep the fundraising figure climbing in the background — not least because it would benefit our customers too. And what better way to do so than to leverage our own commercial success?

During a defined period of time, £200 from every shredder sale was therefore directed to the charity. So, as well as aiding our fundraising efforts, we helped customers boost their own CSR credentials in the process. The best bit? They didn’t even have to lift a finger.

993 bike miles took us from Boroughbridge to Austria

Our ambitious fundraising mission was met with an equally zealous cycling target, as the team banded together in a bid to clock 993 miles on a pair of indoor bikes in the UNTHA UK reception area. 

Representing the exact distance from our Boroughbridge base to UNTHA’s flagship HQ in Kuchl, Austria, achieving such a bold figure was no mean feat. However, with sheer determination, and sights set on Marie Curie’s mission, the team managed to complete the challenge.

Sarah Murray reached new heights

Freefalling through the air at 120 mph, from 15,000 ft, is not for the faint hearted. But for Sarah Murray, our sales officer manager and resident adrenaline junkie, it’s just another opportunity to take her thrill seeking tendency to new heights (literally!). 

Blown away by the compassion, care, and dedication shown to her late father and surrounding family, Sarah’s firsthand experience of the charity is what spurred the decision to jump. And by the time she landed, feet firmly on the ground, she’d added over £700 to the Marie Curie total.

Our sweet and savoury culinary skills were put to the test

In true fundraising fashion, the UNTHA team whipped up a range of sweet and savoury delights to help drum up donations last summer. The bake sale took place on the front lawn at our Boroughbridge HQ, featuring treats such as cornflake cakes, vanilla iced muffins, scones, sausages rolls, and more. 

Raising an additional £115.69 for the cause, it was a roaring success

The swear jar got (slightly) weightier

Despite best efforts to keep ‘f bombs’ at bay in the office, a couple of UNTHA colleagues couldn’t help but let some swear words slip. But don’t worry, they paid the price for their loose lips by donating £1 for every mishap, during our team-building day out. 

But that’s not all…

As several months of activity draws to a close, we’re proud to reflect on the strides the UNTHA UK collective has made to support Marie Curie. But we can’t quite stop there, as there’s still a customer-sprayed shredder up for grabs.

The best-selling four shaft RS40 dons a bright blue outfit, complete with the signature Marie Curie daffodil, to pay homage to the inspiring work undertaken by the charity. Bold and bright, it’s the perfect pairing for our ambitious fundraising mission.

The compact yet durable machine was the first of its kind to look like this. But that’s not all. Our most versatile shredder, the machine can also handle a wide range of complex applications — including WEEE, confidential waste, metals, plastics, organic waste, hazardous waste, bulky items, tyres, mattresses, and more.

Keep your eyes peeled on our LinkedIn channel, to see where our charity efforts take us next.