The Orchid Group will raise funds to tackle male cancer after the pub group’s employees voted in an online poll to select the national charity the business will support for 2010.

After a close-run vote, Orchid’s people have overwhelmingly (26% of the vote) chosen to support a cancer charity which shares the company name.  Orchid Cancercare (www.orchid-cancer.org.uk) funds pioneering research and promotes awareness of male cancers which claim thousands of lives a year, including testicular, prostate and penile cancers.

The online poll was set up by Orchid and opened up to all employees, from kitchen porters and glass collector’s right through to the senior management team.  More than 1200 people voted in the online poll.

Simon Dodd, Orchid’s Commercial Director says, “Pubs play a vital role in the communities they serve, and our employees and customers raise hundreds of thousands of pounds a year for local charities and good causes.  In addition to that, we wanted to select a national charity for Group-wide initiatives and to support at Head Office level.”

He adds, “People are at the heart of the Orchid business so it was important to give everyone an equal say in the decision about the national charity we’ll be supporting.”

The ten charities which were shortlisted are less well-known than the UK’s highest profile good causes, ensuring that Orchid’s support is targeted to a cause where it can have a real impact.

The second-place charity, Brainwave (www.brainwave.org.uk) was just pipped to the post in a tight poll.   Simon ends, “We plan to repeat the vote next year, so there will be an opportunity for other charities to benefit.”