Giant Bear Supports Scaffolders’ Phone Appeal

Formark Scaffolding has launched an appeal for old mobile phones to help raise £50,000 for the UK’s leading hospital radio station. Announcing the initiative Formark Managing Director Mark Coote called on construction companies throughout London and the South East to help support Radio Marsden by collecting phones. The charity run radio station has broadcast to patients at the world-renowned Royal Marsden cancer hospitals in London and Surrey for more than 40-years, but unless it replaces ageing studio equipment the station will go off-air permanently. “To help mark our 21st anniversary as an independent scaffolding contractor we wanted to do something for people across the wide area in which we operate that would make a difference,” said Mark. “When you experience or hear about the fantastic work the radio station does at the Royal Marsden and the support it gives to cancer sufferers, their families and friends, it’s unthinkable that such a well-loved and well-known charity should be in financial difficulty. “But although it broadcasts to patients and on-line 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the station does not receive any grants or funding from the hospital, the NHS or the Government, so relies entirely on donations and fund-raising to run the service.” The station’s plight has led to a host of celebrities, from veteran Radio 2 broadcaster Ken Bruce and Phillip Schofield to David Walliams and Hulk Hogan, having their photograph taken with the Radio Marsden Bear and tweeting details of the appeal to their followers. So it was a bit of a surprise when the life-size mascot turned up at Formark’s main yard in Whyteleafe, Surrey, along with Radio Marsden Chairman Jason Reynolds, to help launch the phone appeal. “We simply want companies throughout the construction industry to put up a poster, provide a collection box and send the phones on to us or call us and we’ll come and collect them,” added Mark. For a poster or further information call Formark Marketing on 07753 374628 or email [email protected]