Pictured above: Palletforce Chief Executive Michael Conroy

One of Burton-upon-Trent's biggest businesses has raised £9,000 for charity at their Annual General Meeting.

The money was raised through an auction at Palletforce's AGM earlier this month for the Midlands Air Ambulance and Cancer Research UK.

The prizes on offer at the auction included signed framed photos of Eric Cantona and Michael Schumacher, a television, vintage champagne and a signed photo of Geoff Hurst.

"The Midlands Air Ambulance and Cancer Research UK are two very worthy causes that we were only too happy to support," said Palletforce Chief Executive Michael Conroy.

"As usual, our members were extremely generous and the money raised will hopefully make a real difference to these charities."

The charities were chosen by Palletforce staff who were asked who they wanted to support at the AGM.

Palletforce staff also saw the work of the air ambulance first hand when their helicopter landed at the network's distribution hub, which overlooks the A38, last year as it responded to a nearby traffic collision.

Stef Langford-Brown, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Midlands Air Ambulance, said: "This generous donation by Palletforce is a great way to kick off our 20th anniversary year. 

"As a charity we rely on donations from local businesses to raise the £6 million needed to remain operational. This donation will fund several life-saving missions of which we perform 3,000 each year.

"I would like to say thank you to everyone that donated throughout the evening and I look forward to working with Palletforce throughout this very special year." 

Carole Ibbotson, Area Volunteer Manager for Cancer Research UK, said: "Cancer Research UK's  mission is to carry  out world class research to improve our understanding of cancer and find out how to prevent, diagnose and treat different kinds of cancer and to ensure that our findings are used to improve the lives of all cancer patients.  

"One in three of us will at some point in our lives be touched by cancer and we rely so much on our local companies who fundraise on our behalf. 

"I would like to thank everyone at Palletforce for their generosity, their support and for helping to raise such a magnificent amount of money which will be used wisely in our pioneering research."