IT was an electric atmosphere at Lydiard Park when workers from a power firm took part in a charity run.

Around 110 employees from npower and its parent group RWE took part in five-kilometre and 10-kilometre fun runs last month in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The cancer charity is npower’s charity partner and the runners powered around Lydiard Park to raise money as part of the firm’s ongoing ‘£203 challenge’, which asks all npower employees to raise £203 in 2015 – enough to fund a Macmillan nurse for a day.

For the fifth year in a row, the group pounded the ground at the historic park and have raised a fantastic £1,250 for Macmillan, which the energy company pledges to match pound for pound, taking the grand total to £2,500.

Andy Powell, npower risk manager, said the run, on June 17, was a big success.

“Lots of people came out to do their bit and support Macmillan,” he said. “It’s a charity that’s very important to our people so it was a great effort to support such a worthy cause.”

The company’s £203 challenge comes at a time of growing demand for Macmillan professionals, including nurses.

The charity estimates there are currently 2.5 million people living with cancer in the UK, which is an increase of almost half a million people in the last five years – and this number is set to double by 2030.

Melanie Failes, senior partnership manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Andy and the team in Swindon have done a fantastic job supporting Macmillan and our nurses.

“Our partnership has gone from strength to strength over the last 11 years and thanks to npower, we’ve been able to help thousands of people affected by cancer out of fuel poverty, and ensure that no one has to face cancer alone."

“This has been achieved thanks to the support of the fantastic npower employees who have given their time, money, expertise and passion to make a difference to the lives of people affected by cancer.”

If you or someone you know has been affected by cancer and would like details on the partnership’s initiatives, like the joint Fuel Management Programme, and how they could help you manage your energy costs, call the Macmillan Support Line free on 0808 808 0000, or log on to npower.com/Macmillan.