A HOUSING association is celebrating raising more than £20,000 for a cancer charity.

Housing firm, Aster Group, announced it will be supporting Cancer Research UK as its Charity of the Year.

Through initiatives such as London’s Shine Night Walk, Woof Walkies and Walk All Over Cancer, Aster's colleagues have raised a total of £20,060 for the charity.

Aster match funds raised by colleagues but has been double match funding anything raised for CRUK to maximise the donations.

Nick Johnson, Cancer Research UK’s fundraising manager for the south, said: “Cancer survival has doubled since the 1970’s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of this.

"We have only been able to achieve this thanks to the dedication and generosity of employees and organisations like Aster Group without whom we would not be able to fund the work and commitment of outstanding scientists, doctors and nurses.”

Rachel Credido, Group people and transformation director at Aster said: “We’re really proud to have raised such vital funds for Cancer Research UK and to have played our part in helping to raise the money the charity so desperately needs for research and treatment.

“We believe that giving back is really important whether this is as individuals or as a business.

"It’s been inspiring to see the dedication and commitment shown by our colleagues to take part in all sorts of challenges to raise funds for this vital cause that touches so many of us.”

To officially hand over the money raised, 15 of Aster’s colleagues have been invited to CRUK’s experimental medicine centre in Southampton at the end of April for an exclusive tour where they’ll hear from researchers and nurses.

Aster plans to announce its new Charity of the Year for 2020, which is voted on by its colleagues, in April.