MDL Marinas raises £10,000 for charity through summer events
MDL Marinas says its marina teams raised £10,000 over the summer through a series of fundraising efforts to support local communities and national charities.
The funds will contribute to organisations including Hamble Lifeboat, Macmillan Cancer Support, and Prostate Cancer UK.
The fundraising initiatives spanned a range of events held across MDL’s marina locations. One notable effort was led by Lauren McCann, marina manager at Ocean Village Marina in Southampton, who shaved her head to raise funds for Breast Cancer UK, Prostate Cancer UK, and Ocean Youth Trust South. Additional events at Ocean Village included a raffle and a duck race, which together raised £4,886.
“A huge thank you to everyone that supported our charity events. From amazing live music and generous raffle prize donations to all the personal donations, we couldn’t have done it without the best marina team and community,” says McCann.
“We’re thrilled to support these three incredible charities, and I’m proud that my hair donation is now on its way to The Little Princess Trust to be made into a wig for a child undergoing cancer treatment.”
Charity initiatives across MDL Marinas
Other MDL marinas also contributed to the fundraising efforts this summer, with marina teams, tenants, and customers uniting to support various causes.
Bray Marina raised £580 for Swan Lifeline through the ‘Pedalo to Penton’ event, where staff pedalled from Bray to Penton Hook, supported by Bray Marine sales, which provided a safety boat.
Chatham Maritime Marina raised £470 for Evelina London Children’s Charity through raffles and competitions, including ‘Guess the Sweets’, held in memory of a colleague’s granddaughter.
Port Hamble Marina raised £2,948 for Hamble Lifeboat through a 24-hour cycling challenge and BBQ. Mercury Yacht Harbour held a summer party that raised £650 for Hamble Lifeboat and Wet Wheels, attracting over 250 guests who participated in games, raffles, and activities supported by local businesses.
Meanwhile Northney Marina raised £360 for Macmillan Cancer Support and the Alzheimer’s Society with a charity BBQ.
Ongoing support for Ocean Youth Trust
Beyond these fundraising events, MDL Marinas continues its support for Ocean Youth Trust South by hosting its sail training vessel Prolific and sustaining its commitment to the MDL Sail Training Awards, which provide young people with the opportunity to experience life at sea.
Nominations for the 2025 sailing experience are now open, with selected winners set to participate in a five-night journey aboard Prolific. During the voyage, participants will be involved in various activities such as hoisting sails, assisting with maintenance, night sailing, cooking, and cleaning alongside the crew. The voyage will depart from Southampton in April 2025.
Daniel Horsley, MDL’s operations director, comments: “We’re incredibly proud of the hard work, dedication and support shown by our marina teams and customers.
“Raising £10,000 for such a wide range of causes is a huge achievement. We’re proud to back charities that are so close to our hearts and make a real difference in people’s lives.”
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