Macmillan launch first charity branded bus
Howard Lake | 20 July 2003 | News
Macmillan Cancer Relief has launched what they claim is the UK’s first charity branded bus in Glasgow to increase awareness of the organisation in Scotland’s largest city.
The double decker bus has been decorated in Macmillan green with the strapline ‘Helping people living with cancer in Glasgow’ across both sides and the rear of the bus. The bus is part of First Glasgow’s fleet and will be on the road for a year taking passengers on various routes across Glasgow city centre.
To help cover the cost of the bus, companies were invited to buy space to display their logo on the exterior of the vehicle. Eleven local, national and international companies signed up to the project including: Abbey National, Ad Cab, Arran Aromatics, Astra Zeneca, Crimestoppers Scotland, Guy Robertson Partnership, Holiday Inn, John Watson & Co, John R Weir, Office Angels and Scotkart Indoor Racing.
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The bus was officially unveiled in Glasgow’s George Square at the beginning of July by Only Fools and Horses’ favourites second hand car dealer Boycie and his glamorous wife Marlene. Actors John Challis and Sue Holderness were in town to appear in ‘How the other half loves’ at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow as part of a national tour.
Macmillan Cancer Relief’s Director for Scotland, Ian Gibson said: “We hope that the increased awareness of Macmillan generated by the bus will help us to reach our Glasgow appeal target of £1.2 million and enable us to fund more services in the city. If successful, we hope to roll out the scheme in other areas of the UK.”
Amnesty International UK previously commissioned a London bus to be branded in black with the Amnesty logo in order to promote the group’s 2001 Wembley Arena concert “We Know Where You Live”. The bus ran on the 38 route (which passes Amnesty UK’s offices) for a year, and was launched by comedian Eddie Izzard.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.