Northern Ireland Insurance firm goes the extra mile go for former colleague who lost husband to cancer

Cornmarket Insurance and Adelaide Motorbike have shown their support to former colleague, Charlotte Nicholas, by selecting Cancer Focus Northern Ireland as their charity partner for 2025.

The staff at Cornmarket Insurance and Adelaide Motorbike, an insurance company who have been providing exceptional insurance services for over 30 years, will rally round their former colleague who lost her husband to cancer in February 2023. Plans have already begun with staff eager to make this one of their best fundraising years to date all in aid of the charity that was there for their colleague and her family when she needed support.

The decision comes on the back of Cancer Focus NI’s Christmas campaign which featured the Nicholas family’s story. Touched by the support their former colleague received through the charity’s Family Support Service, the teams agreed that it was the perfect charity to partner with for the coming year of corporate fundraising.

Charlotte worked at the company until 2021 but recently rekindled friendships with former colleagues after they commended her bravely at sharing her story across social media, video, and even bus shelter adverts. Since the passing of her husband, Gavin, Charlotte alongside her daughters, Olivia and Lilah, have been passionate about raising awareness so other families in their situation know that help is out there.

Chloe McKee, Deputy Contact Centre Manager at Cornmarket Insurance Services said, “Cornmarket are delighted to help support Cancer Focus NI in 2025. This is a meaningful charity to Cornmarket as our former colleague Charlotte would have been lost without the support of Cancer Focus NI when she lost her husband to cancer. We want to help support even more local families in Northern Ireland and help make a lasting impact for people going through a cancer journey.”

Charlotte extends her gratitude to the company and staff for supporting the charity that has been a lifeline in her family’s time of need: “Luckily Cancer Focus NI came into our lives. Their Family Support team have been fantastic and helped us prepare for our first Christmas without Gavin. They are helping us as a family to express our emotions and make us feel like we are not alone. Their fantastic Family Support Team and events are helping my daughters connect with other children who have experienced loss.”

Cornmarket Insurance and Adelaide Motorbike have an exciting year ahead with plans to host a range of fun-filled fundraisers in the office and taking part in some of the charity’s key events throughout the year. Their funds raised will have a long-lasting impact on local people with just £233 paying for 4 hours of specialist support for a local family going through a cancer diagnosis or bereavement.

Meg McKeown, Corporate Fundraising Officer beamed: “We are over the moon to be working with the teams at Cornmarket Insurance and Adelaide Motorbike throughout 2025. It is heartwarming to see a local business advocate for their employees, and in this case, even former employees. This partnership demonstrates just how committed the staff are to make a lasting difference to local people affected by cancer in Northern Ireland. And we cannot wait to spend a year supporting these wonderful organisations.”

As part of the collaboration, Cancer Focus NI will be providing information and wellbeing days including stop smoking stands, care in the sun clinics, and a visit from our Keeping Well Van to offer employees the chance to take steps to lower their risk of cancer.