Staff from accountancy firm EY’s Bristol office have walked, baked and quizzed their way to raising more than £19,000 for Cancer Research UK.
The world’s leading independent charity for cancer research, influence and information, Cancer Research UK was chosen as the office’s 2023/24 charity following a vote by employees as part of EY’s UK Charitable Giving programme. 
A range of fundraising events were staged throughout the year, including a sponsored walk across the Mendip Hills from Priddy to Cheddar Gorge, which was supported by more than100 staff and brought in more than £2,800.
Others ranged from bake sales, competitions and a festive raffle to a 10k-a-day step challenge.
The activities, which brought in a total of £19,478, including Gift Aid, were led by Mark Ireson, a manager in strategy and transactions at EY, with support from various members of the team.
Mark and his family have been heavily impacted by cancer. After losing both his father and uncle to the disease in 2019, Mark’s mother was then diagnosed with stage 3-4 cancer the same year.
She began chemotherapy in January 2020 and has battled through five courses of treatment so far with the most recent finishing in June. 
Mark, pictured presenting the funds to representatives of Cancer Research UK, said he had been “absolutely blown away” by the support of his colleagues at EY Bristol.
“The whole office got behind all the fundraising events we’ve organised, which is amazing,” he added.
“Cancer Research is a cause close to my heart and I’m so grateful for everyone’s support.”
Cancer Research UK relationship manager Louise Gash praised the fantastic efforts of the EY Bristol office in raising vital funds for the charity.
“The whole office has really embraced the challenge and the amount raised has far exceeded what we thought would be possible when EY Bristol originally chose Cancer Research UK as their charity for the year,” she said.
“We rely on money raised by organisations such as EY to be able to fund the research needed to bring us closer to our vision of a world where people can all live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. Thanks go to the whole team for helping toward this.”
EY has 21 offices across the UK employing around 21,100 people.
