Maggie's Christmas Extravaganza raises £41K with help from headline sponsor Swansea Building Society

Swansea Building Society has celebrated the success of the inaugural Maggie's Swansea Christmas Extravaganza, a festive celebration where the Society served as the headline sponsor. 

The event, held at Swansea Arena, raised an impressive £41,000 in support of Maggie's cancer charity. This marks a significant achievement in the ongoing support provided by Swansea Building Society to Maggie's, its official charity for the past two years.

The Christmas Extravaganza, attended by almost 1,400 people, achieved its fundraising milestone through ticket sales and on-site fundraising activities. While the £41,000 was directly raised from event attendees, it underscores Swansea Building Society's ongoing commitment to Maggie's, having contributed £32,000 to the charity over the past two years, and announcing that it will continue to support Maggie’s as its official charity throughout 2024.

The event, hosted by Swansea's own Kev Johns, featured outstanding performances by local talents including Welsh singer-songwriter Steve Balsamo, West End sensation Ria Jones, legendary Welsh composer and musician Mal Pope, pianist extraordinaire Rob Marshall, operatic talent Ros Evans, and a special appearance from renowned stage and screen actor Adrian Metcalfe. The lineup also included the voices of Dunvant Male Voice Choir and Côr Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr.

Maggie's, known for providing the best possible free support to individuals and their families facing cancer, has remained a focal point of Swansea Building Society's philanthropic efforts during its centenary year. In addition, however, 2023 has also seen the mutual focus on several community-based centenary initiatives. The largest of these has been its donation of £100,000 to local charities, with other Society initiatives during 2023 including 100 days of volunteering, and 100 trees planted at Penllergare Valley Woods.

As the Society’s centenary celebrations come to their conclusion, it looks forward to continuing its impactful partnership with Maggie's in 2024, reaffirming its dedication to the community's well-being and supporting those affected by cancer.

Lucia Osmond, Centre Fundraising Manager at Maggie’s, said:

"The success of the Maggie's Swansea Christmas Extravaganza has been truly heartwarming, and we are incredibly thankful for the overwhelming support from our community. The event, which raised an impressive £41,000, is a testament to the generosity and compassion of individuals who came together to make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Swansea Building Society for their invaluable sponsorship of the event and their steadfast commitment to our cause. Their support has played a pivotal role in the success of this event and in our ongoing mission to ensure that no one faces cancer alone."

Alun Williams, Chief Executive at Swansea Building Society, added:

"Swansea Building Society takes immense pride in supporting Maggie's and the remarkable success of the Christmas Extravaganza. As the headline sponsor, we are delighted to see the community come together to raise £41,000 in support of Maggie's crucial work. We extend our sincere thanks to Maggie's for the impactful partnership, and we are honoured to contribute to their mission of providing free support to those facing cancer. Swansea Building Society remains committed to standing alongside Maggie's, and we look forward to continuing our support in the year to come."