A non-profit housing provider team has raised over £2,000 for three charities close to their hearts.

Progress Housing Group raised over £1,000, split between the charity Key Unlocking Futures, Rosemere Cancer Foundation, and St Catherine’s Hospice.

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Progress Housing Group then matched the figure, making it over £2,000.

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Phil Bentley, a lead joiner at Progress Housing Group, who organised the fundraising, said: “We were very aware how the past two years had been difficult for us, and it must have been worse for others.

“Everyone was fantastic, generously donating more than £1,000, which the group doubled, giving each charity £683.

“Rosemere and St Catherine’s Hospice are personal to me. My mum, Kathleen, had secondary lung cancer and was treated at Rosemere with radiation therapy nine years ago.

“She also spent her last 12 weeks at St Catherine’s Hospice. What they provide is priceless, and I will always be in their debt. We are also keen to support Key and raise its profile, as it is a very worthwhile charity.”

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Liam Cryer, a lead joiner at Progress Housing Group, chose Rosemere after the charity supported him in 2018 when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

The 27-year-old from Higher Walton said: “Being diagnosed with testicular cancer was an extremely difficult time in my life. After my surgery, I started three months of chemotherapy at Rosemere.

“Without Rosemere acting so efficiently with my treatment, I don’t know where I would be today.

“To be able to give back to the charity that helped me so much means the world to me. I hope we continue to raise money for charities, especially Rosemere, in the future.”

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Key Unlocking Futures helps more than 1,500 people across Lancashire achieve their potential, supporting them to find employment and secure accommodation.

Jayne Allison, Business Development Manager at Key, said: “We are really grateful to the team at Progress Housing Group for choosing to support us and spread the word about our work.

Jayne said the donation makes a huge difference and helps the charity support those going through tough times, providing food parcels, support to find accommodation and counselling services.

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Yvonne Stott, a community fundraiser for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, said: “We are thrilled to receive this donation.

“It’s great to know there are brilliant local businesses such as Progress Housing Group seeking ways to make life better for the whole community.”

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Emily Carpenter, Community Engagement Officer at St Catherine’s Hospice, said the charity is grateful to Phil and the team for thinking of them.

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Emily said: “We wouldn’t be able to help people experience a caring and supportive quality, end of life care without our communities’ amazing support.

“We are truly touched that the team at Progress Housing Group chose to donate their social event funds and that they encouraged their colleagues to back our cause and the other worthwhile charities.”

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