As many of you will know, one of our ASMs, Marlon Clare, joined our business a few months ago. Shortly after, his newborn daughter was diagnosed with retinoblastoma - a rare form of infant eye cancer. She needed urgent surgery to remove her eye, and she continues to be monitored closely to make sure there are no further issues.

Marlon has given permission for us to share this, and he is deeply grateful for the support he has already felt from our teams. The charity that supported his family right from the start - and who continue to support them - is the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT). They are the only charity in the UK dedicated solely to childhood eye cancer.

Sadly, this is not a rare diagnosis. Around one child every single week in the UK is diagnosed with retinoblastoma.

CHECT funds:

• emotional and practical support for families at diagnosis and through treatment

• specialist nurses

• awareness and early-diagnosis education (which is critical for survival and sight)

• research into treatment and quality of life outcomes

• travel, accommodation and support grants when children must attend specialist hospitals

We have decided that this year’s Christmas Giving will be focused on raising funds for CHECT - in honour of Marlon’s daughter and in support of every family that faces this journey.