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PMC and Adoption UK
Since June 2008, retail systems experts PMC (Paul Mason Consulting) has provided Adoption UK with a range of sponsorship packages to fund the development of its website. PMC's ongoing support through fundraising and donations has allowed us to redevelop the Online Community to improve the technology behind it and carry Adoption UK's online presence into the future. Their most recent donation of a further £5,000 in September 2011 helps that development work continue. (Press releases detailing PMC's continuing involvement with Adoption UK are shown at the bottom of this page.)
Raising £5,000 for Adoption UK by running The New York Marathon in 4 hours 30 minutes - roped together!
Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK – 20th February 2012 – Two employees from market leading provider of IT services and solutions to the retail sector, Abingdon-based PMC will run the New York Marathon on 4th November 2012 - roped together. Michael Gerrard, Testing Consultant at PMC, and his fiancée Caroline Thorley have set themselves the goal to raise £5,000 for Banbury-based charity Adoption UK. 
Michael and Caroline will need to put in a lot of training, which as they will be roped together, includes learning how to work as a team and running at the same pace throughout. This will not be an easy task as Michael is 6'4" and Caroline is only 5'1”.
PMC has long-supported Adoption UK through both direct donations from the company and through money raised by its staff participating in varied fund-raising activities including skydiving, marathon running and indoor mountain climbing.
Adoption UK is a national charity that works with and on behalf of adoptive parents. It provides information, training and guidance at all stages of the adoption process and campaigns to ensure that adoptive families receive the support and encouragement they need.
Michael and Caroline have their own website http://www.aukmarathon.co.uk/ and a page at Just Giving - http://www.justgiving.com/Mike-and-Caroline-Marathon.
Just Giving makes donating to charities simple, fast and totally secure. Your information is safe with Just Giving and they never sell-on donators’ details or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer, making it the most efficient way to donate.
You can also follow Michael and Caroline’s progress as they prepare for their challenge on Twitter@aukmarathon and Facebook at facebook.com/aukmarathon.co.uk.
Michael states: “Through PMC, we have come to understand how important Adoption UK is to adoptive parents. PMC’s people have undertaken a range of challenges to raise money for the charity, but this is the biggest one yet and £5,000 is a significant target.”
The 2012 New York City Marathon takes place on 4th November 2012 – it is a major annual marathon (42.195 km/26.219 mi) that courses through the five boroughs of New York City and is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010.
Paul Mason, CEO, PMC states: “This is a huge challenge for Michael and Caroline and along with their friends and family, PMC totally supports their efforts. To compete in a marathon demands hours of training and considerable personal commitment, we look forward to congratulating them on their return and sincerely hope they raise the full £5,000.”
‘Sponsorship that counts’
Paul Mason, CEO, PMC explains the reason behind his company’s sponsorship: “Too often, corporate sponsorship is directed at the most newsworthy rather than the most worthy. I am a firm believer in providing ‘sponsorship that counts’ that’s why PMC is committed to helping Adoption UK with both financial and other support. I consider supporting an organisation that helps make adoptions work and promotes loving and supportive relationships between children and their adoptive families, is one of the most important sponsorship commitments we could make. As an adoptive parent myself, I know that Adoption UK’s work makes a real difference.”
“When I considered committing sponsorship funds to a deserving cause I looked at a number of options. Prime among my goals was finding a cause that made a difference to life, needed the funds, and could do something useful with the money. Also I wanted to fulfil a personal goal of ‘sponsorship that counts’. There seemed little or no point in paying for a PMC logo on the side of a racing car, endorsing a sport or a one-off event. My objective was something that mattered and something long term.”
“Adoption UK’s stated goal is: ‘To make adoptions work and promote loving and supportive relationships between children and their adoptive families.’ That in itself is reason enough to support their cause.”
“The Adoption UK website operates as a traditional information website and as a support service and communications network for prospective adopters and adoptive parents. Their website technology is outdated and needs replacing so they can take advantage of the latest in communications and networking technology services. Given that the site is such a major communications tool for adoptive parents I saw that we could make an immediate contribution. Also, with PMC’s extensive experience of multi-channel retailing, helping retailers of all sizes to maximise their use of the web, there is the potential for Adoption UK to benefit from a direct link to our knowledge base.”
“PMC is the UK’s leading independent retail systems IT specialist. Our business combines a solid foundation of first-hand retail experience from shop floor through to board level, combined with in depth systems expertise. We deliver unmatched quality of advice based on educated thought leadership to help retailers understand ‘what is around the corner’ and how to meet the demands driving developments in the retail industry.”
“When I talk about my company and its success I’m reminded of how important the adoption programme is. Personally, I find it incredible that one of our greatest assets – our children – can often be badly treated. All children have physical and emotional needs, and for many adopted children these needs were not met. This unimaginable start to life means that anything we can do to help them is vital.”
PMC fundraising in action
July 2008 - PMC consultant runs to help Adoption UK
November 2008 - Mission Accomplished - 1,000m mountain climb for Adoption UK
June 2009 - PMC donates £1,000 to Adoption UK's Online Community Development project
September 2009 - PMCs Skydiving Six raise over £1,500 for Adoption UK