A MARVELLOUS milestone has been reached – and it’s one hundred thousand thanks to Ark Cancer Centre Charity supporters.

In 2016, Ark became a charity partner of Bag It Up (BIU) Group – one of the UK’s leading clothing and textile recycling companies.

The partnership means the Ark is among BIU’s charity partners to benefits from a percentage of the proceeds when residents, businesses and community groups recycle their unwanted clothing and shoes in Ark-branded BIU recycling banks in Hampshire.

In three years, and the great support from local people means that £100,000 has now been raised for Ark’s £5million appeal to fund supportive services, complementary therapies, and an enhanced environment in a new NHS cancer treatment centre that will be built at Basingstoke hospital.

Items can be recycled in more than 50 locations in the Hampshire area, many of them in and around Basingstoke and Deane.

Mark Jones, director of fundraising and communications at Ark Cancer Centre Charity, said: “Thank you to everyone who has recycled items in our Ark-branded BIU Group recycling banks, and also to all of the organisations who have hosted the banks – your support has made a massive difference.”

“The partnership between Ark and BIU Group is delivering a real boost to the ongoing campaign to raise funds for, and awareness of, the charity and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust cancer treatment centre project.”

Wendy Yarney, charity partnerships director at BIU Group, said: “We are thrilled to have reached the £100,000 milestone through our partnership with Ark Cancer Centre Charity.

“At BIU, we are proud of our partnerships with regional, UK-based charities that are well-supported by local residents and businesses, and we are delighted that our partnership with Ark has made such a massive difference to this good cause.

“The partnership is ongoing and we look forward to reaching, and celebrating, more milestones in the future as people keep recycling in their Ark-branded banks.”