Macmillan Cancer Support has teamed up with construction company Travis Perkins and sister brand Benchmarx in a bid to raise £3m over the next three years.

All of the 8,500 employees at the 650 Travis Perkins and 110 Benchmarx sites across the UK will be encouraged to become involved with fundraising activities, with each site aiming to raise enough money to “power an hour” of Macmillan support for a cancer sufferer.

Not only will the three-year partnership aim to raise money for Macmillan, it will also aim to provide information and support to the predominantly male staff of the companies, because most men would not proactively seek cancer information themselves.

Employees will be asked to take part in the 'Grim Challenge', an endurance fundraiser, as well as a number of bespoke walking events over the summer. Travis Perkins and Benchmarx will also play a large role in Macmillan’s 'World’s Biggest Coffee Morning' in September.

“We are delighted to be working with Macmillan,” said Andrew Harrison, divisional chief operating officer at Travis Perkins. “We look forward to the next three years of partnership, and working hard building the foundations of great cancer support, together.”

Macmillan was reportedly chosen by the Travis Perkins board after being invited alongside a number of other charities to make a pitch for support.

Alix Woodling, head of corporate partnerships at Macmillan, says the charity are delighted with the new partnership, as the 17 companies which make up Travis Perkins Plc have a long history of working with charities, raising £1.8m last year alone. 

“Macmillan is delighted to have been chosen as Travis Perkins and Benchmarx’s new charity partner, and we look forward to working together to raise awareness, as well as vital funds for people affected by cancer,” he said.