AN AWARD-winning Basingstoke firm is playing its part in raising funds for gynaecological cancer research.

Basingstoke-headquartered hygiene product manufacturer Vectair Systems has teamed up with The Eve Appeal with the official launch of its Femcare MVP sanitary towel bins. For every unit sold in the UK, Vectair Systems will donate 50p to the charity.

The Eve Appeal chief executive officer Athena Lamnisos, who recently popped by Vectair Systems’ offices at The Trident Centre, in Armstrong Road, to make a YouTube video to promote the charity’s partnership with the company, said: “We are unique in that we are the only national charity that focuses on all five gynaecological cancers – cervical, ovarian, vaginal, vulval and womb cancer. We put our funding into medical research to prevent cancers.”

Athena said that every day, 55 women are diagnosed with gynaecological cancer and that 21 women die.

Delighted to have Vectair Systems’ support, Athena said: “It’s not just about fundraising – it’s about raising awareness of symptoms and signs, and having health information messages in the right place.”

The charity is very close to Vectair Systems managing director Paul Wonnacott’s heart as his daughter Carly suffered ovarian cancer when she was 24. The good news is that Carly, who also works at Vectair Systems, has just had her five-year all clear.

Paul said that as a leading feminine hygiene provider, Vectair Systems feels very strongly about supporting The Eve Appeal.

“It’s for a great cause. All of our Femcare MVP bins will have The Eve Appeal logo to help raise awareness,” said Paul.

“We hope that when women use our sanitary bins and see The Eve Appeal logo, they’ll be reminded of the importance of knowing the symptoms of gynaecological cancers.”

The new bins, which Paul describes as sanitary bins of the future, and which are made in the UK, come in a choice of models – automatic touch free units or manual units that are operated by a foot pedal.

Vectair Systems is a leading innovator of hygiene products and exports to more than 120 countries, including the United States and India.