YOU can do good by fundraising for free – that’s the message of a new Ark Cancer Centre Charity campaign.

The charity is calling on members of the public to use this challenging time to have a big declutter

to recycle or resell items including unwanted clothes, shoes, books, CDs, and other items to help the charity help and support cancer patients and their families.

The charity's 'Free 2 Do Good' campaign lists ways in which people can easily sell or recycle items to raise money for Ark’s £5million appeal to help fund and deliver supportive care and services, complementary therapies, and an enhanced environment in a NHS cancer treatment centre at Basingstoke hospital.

Ways of supporting Ark through free fundraising include:

· Recycle old clothes and shoes in our Ark-branded BIU Group Recycling banks - Find out more at https://biugroup.co.uk/charity/ark-cancer-centre-charity

· Support Ark through online shopping - buy goods through Amazon Smile and Easyfundraising.org.uk -https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/arkcancercentrecharity/

· Support Ark through selling your unwanted books, CDs, DVDs and Games online through Ziffit - https://bit.ly/3d81hPI

One of the key ways that people can support Ark is by recycling unwanted clothes and shoes in one of the charity's many branded recycling banks that are dotted in and around the Basingstoke area.

In 2016, Ark became a charity partner with Bag It Up Ltd (BIU) – one of the UK’s leading clothing and textile recycling companies – and since then, Ark supporters have helped the charity raise more than £100,000.

Mark Jones, director of fundraising and communications for Ark Cancer Centre Charity, said: “In these challenging times, Ark is keen to make it as easy, free or as low-cost as possible, for people to continue supporting the charity.

“The recycling of clothes and shoes is one of the easiest ways to make a big difference to Ark. People can have a clear-out while on lockdown and bag up and drop off their items in our recycling banks as part of their daily exercise – a full list of our banks can be found at https://biugroup.co.uk/banklocator/

“Of course, it is of paramount importance that people follow the Government’s advice and restrictions during the Covid-19 crisis. So if people prefer to do so, they can declutter, bag up their items, and drop them off at their local bank as and when lockdown restrictions are relaxed or lifted.”

Mark added: “The BIU team are continuing to collect items from their recycling banks, although the number of collections has been reduced due to the Covid-19 advice and restrictions."

“BIU and Ark would also be grateful if people could please not leave bagged-up donations next to banks that are already full. If anyone sees a full bank, please let me know on mark.jones@arkcancercentrecharity.org.uk.”

Mark added: "We are grateful to everyone who has recycled items in the charity's branded banks since 2016, and also to the many organisations which are hosting banks bearing our branding – it is a great show of support."

Find out more: www.arkcancercharity.org.uk/free2dogood-thanks-your-support.