Tower in deal with Macmillan
A £100,000 partnership between Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower and Macmillan Cancer Support has been unveiled – so long as permission is given for the charity’s logo to appear on one of the legs of the attraction.
The cancer charity is set to become the new presenting partner for the tower, which is owned by the council, which will remain its white colour and will not be renamed or repainted. Instead the charity's logo will appear on the bottom section of one of the tower' s legs and on sign sat the front and inside.
If advertising consent for the charity's logo to appear on the 170m structure is given by the council’ s planning committee on May 31, then the partnership will begin in June.
The tower was previously known as the Emirates Spinnaker Tower under a five-year sponsorship deal that started in 2015. At first the move caused controversy when Emirates unveiled plans to repaint the tower in its corporate identity of red and white – not realising those were the colours of Southampton FC. After a rethink the tower got a paint job in blue and yellow, but has since been restored to its original white.
The new partnership is intended to raise awareness of the help available to people affected by cancer, particularly the services Macmillan provides to the community in and around Portsmouth and will support Macmillan's fundraising events and activities.
The agreement will also generate income for the council.
Visitors will have the option to directly donate to Macmillan Cancer Support when they buy tickets. Macmillan will also hold fundraising events there over the next year, including charity abseils and a coffee morning in the clouds.
Anthony Newman, brand and marketing director for Macmillan Cancer Support, said: ‘This is a brilliant opportunity for Macmillan to reach more people affected by cancer. Locally, the Macmillan Information and Support Centre at Queen Alexandra Hospital provides invaluable support to cancer patients and their families and, through the fundraising events and activities that can take place as part of this partnership, we hope to strengthen that support.
‘Sadly, the number of people being diagnosed with cancer is increasing every year and that means Macmillan’ s support for people living with cancer is in more demand than ever.’