Member Article

North East charity sets sail on new corporate partnership

North East based international children’s charity Comrades of Children Overseas (COCO) has set sail on a new partnership with Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV). CMV has chosen COCO to be its charity partner for the North of England for 2020. As part of COCO’s 20th birthday this year, CMV will host an exclusive on board lunch on the company’s Magellan cruise ship in the Port of Tyne in May and support the charity’s fundraising efforts in other ways during the year.

Co-founded in 2000 by Steve Cram CBE and British Army Major Jim Panton, COCO has grown into one of the North East’s most dynamic and well-loved charities, working in partnership with remote communities across East Africa to provide access to the quality education that is essential for a good start in life. Since its inception, the charity has raised over £4.5 million to fund small, community led programmes. COCO and its partners have now undertaken 66 transformational projects in 16 countries, positively impacting on the lives of over 200,000 people.

Bob McGowan, Director of Product & Guest Services, at CMV comments: “CMV has supported COCO since 2016 and we have helped them raise more than £10,000. CMV is a major operator from Port of Tyne and are delighted to assist such a great charity once more. Since the company began cruising from the North East it has been a huge success. This year we are planning six cruises on Magellan starting in the May and a further six cruises on board Marco Polo later on in the year from the Port of Tyne.”

Chief Executive of COCO Lucy Kendall said “COCO is delighted to be the recipient of the generous support of CMV. As an International Charity based in the North East, it seems fitting that we are supported by a company whose cruise ships dock on our doorstep at the innovative and prestigious Port of Tyne. Lunch aboard the Magellan in May this year will be one of the highlights of COCO’s 20th anniversary fundraising calendar.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Chris Lines .