ROL Cruise has surpassed its target of raising £100,000 for the NHS Charities Together campaign.

The agency began fundraising in March, after company directors and staff said they wanted to donate money to support local patients, staff and services.

The money will be used for NHS partners across north east Essex and Suffolk, including Colchester Hospital, Clacton and Harwich Community Hospitals, district nursing and therapy services, mental health services,  St. Helena Hospice, GPs and primary care, and care homes and the ambulance service.

ROL Cruise managing director Sarah Wikevand presented the cheque to senior representatives from across the NHS at ROL’s offices in Lexden.

Wikevand said: “We are so proud to have been able to raise over £100,000 for the NHS and care partnerships and are delighted to hear the difference it will make across such a wide spectrum of services that are supporting people living with the impact of coronavirus.

“The NHS staff and volunteers are doing such amazing work in caring for covid-19 patients and their families and we are very thankful that we have been able to show our support. I would also like to extend our thanks to our cruising customers whose support has enabled us to reach the fundraising target so quickly.”

Suffolk and north east Essex chief executive of clinical commissioning groups Dr Ed Garratt added: “This is a huge donation and we are all extremely grateful to ROL Cruise, its staff and its customers.

“It will strongly recognise all of our colleagues who have worked tirelessly to respond to this outbreak not just in the NHS, but also in care home settings and voluntary sector partners.  The kind generosity will help us as a system to support the recovery process to help ensure the people we serve are able to access the care and support they need.”