World’s Greatest Shave fundraising at Anglo American’s Grasstree mine was among the bestin Australia this year, with the mine awarded both a Leukaemia Foundation Top 30 QueenslandFundraiser and Top 30 National Fundraiser award last week in Brisbane.
Earlier this year 13 Capcoal employees and Middlemount locals shaved their heads for theWorld’s Greatest Shave (WGS) as part of the Mining and Energy Challenge, an eventorganised by Capcoal Underground Health Officer, Melanie Creedon, that raised $30,000.The Top 30 presentation evening was held on Thursday 21 June at the Foundation’s ESAvillage, a new 30-unit complex located in Dutton Park, where families of patients acrossQueensland can stay while patients are treated at the nearby Mater and Princess Alexandrahospitals. The village was funded by donations and WGS proceeds.
Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland Corporate Partnerships Manager, Paul Barnard, said assomeone who came from a mining background, he was very proud of the effort the miningindustry had made to contribute to the worthy cause.
“With more than 40,000 Queenslanders participating in the event, 2012 has been the World’sGreatest Shave’s most successful year in its 14 year history, raising $5 million,” Paul said.
“The fundraising is a wonderful new record for WGS in which the mining and energy sectorprovided more than 10 per cent.
“The willingness of numerous mining companies across Queensland to not only take the time toorganise shave events, but to also put their hands in their pockets and donate says a lot aboutthe social conscience of the people who work in the industry.
“It makes me very proud and it means so much to people who are trying hard to stay positive,get well and beat this disease,” Paul said.
Paul said the generosity of the industry to get behind this great cause would ensure theLeukaemia Foundation could continue to make substantial investments in medical researchand deliver practical care and support completely free of charge to patients and families whenthey need it most.
ENDS
Contact: Metallurgical Coal Corporate Affairs:
Jacqui Strambi: 0439 774 526
Notes to editors:
Anglo American is one of the world’s largest mining companies, is headquartered in the UK andlisted on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges. Anglo American’s portfolio of miningbusinesses spans bulk commodities – iron ore and manganese, metallurgical coal and thermalcoal; base metals – copper and nickel; and precious metals and minerals – in which it is aglobal leader in both platinum and diamonds. Anglo American is committed to the higheststandards of safety and responsibility across all its businesses and geographies and to makinga sustainable difference in the development of the communities around its operations. Thecompany’s mining operations, extensive pipeline of growth projects and exploration activitiesspan southern Africa, South America, Australia, North America, Asia and Europe.