A CAMBRIDGESHIRE bus company has picked up a national award for its dedication to a UK cancer charity.

Stagecoach East won the Corporate Community award in the Cancer Research UK’s annual Flame of Hope awards at the Hotel Russell in Russell Square last month hosted by their chairman, Michael Pragnell.

The bus company provided a pink branded Race for Life bus in 2010 which was then rebranded to support Breast Cancer Awareness and this year they have branded more buses in Peterborough, Bedford and Cambridge.

Stagecoach East raised �20,000 for research into breast cancer last year as it supported Paint Cambridge Pink and on the Race for Life day they provided more Park and Ride services and donated a further �5,333, half of the company’s profits.

The Cambridge-based have also displayed poster and screen adverts free of charge on all Stagecoach buses including Park and Ride services.

Andy Campbell, Managing Director of Stagecoach East, said: “I was delighted to have received this award on behalf of Stagecoach East.

“We will continue our support for the charity with a team in Race for Life followed by a sponsored sky dive and continued promotion of the breast cancer awareness campaign.”

Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK chief executive, said: “We have made enormous progress in the fight against cancer. However, we have only been able to do this thanks to the dedication and commitment of our volunteers and supporters without whom we would not be able to fund outstanding scientists, doctors and nurses.”

Lucy Hynes, Cancer Research UK spokesman, who nominated Stagecoach East for the award, said: “These awards are our way of saying thanks to the people who are the lifeblood of our organisation – people who give their time freely to raise money for research and promote greater awareness of the disease and yet ask for nothing in return.”