3-1-5 wins special award for fund-raising success!
A Personal cause close to home
Staff and members at 3-1-5 Health Club in Lancaster have been honoured with a special Business Impact Award by blood cancer charity Leukaemia and Myeloma Research UK (LMRUK) after helping to raise almost £6,000 through clothing donations.
The club installed one of the charity’s distinctive red clothing banks outside its premises just six months ago. Since then, an incredible 7,900kg of donated clothes have been collected and sold by the charity, raising £5,700 to support pioneering research into blood cancers including leukaemia and multiple myeloma.
In recognition of this achievement, LMRUK presented the club with a glass star trophy, a certificate for the office, and a large display poster now proudly shown in the Health Club. But for the 3-1-5 team and members, this award represents more than a fundraising milestone — it reflects a deeply personal connection to the cause.
Director Sean Thornton, 57, was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma seven years ago, an incurable blood cancer. He underwent a stem cell transplant and, despite several relapses, is now back on a new line of treatment and currently doing well.
“It’s great to be giving back and supporting both these incredible organisations,” said Sean. “The funds raised help to continue vital, life-changing research and support services. I’m now seven years post-stem cell transplant, and while I’ve relapsed multiple times, I feel incredibly blessed by the advances in research and care that have helped keep me — and many others — going.” “Sadly, these cancers are on the rise. We’ve had several members going through similar treatment journeys, and heartbreakingly, others who are no longer with us. That’s why this kind of support means so much — to me personally and to the wider 3-1-5 community.”
“When we received the email from LMRUK asking if they could place a clothing bank outside the club, it was a no-brainer. At the time, Sean was seven years into his diagnosis, and we’ve all been inspired by his journey. We’re proud to support a charity working to find better treatments and ultimately a cure.”
The impact of blood cancers has also touched other members of the club. Deena shared that a long-standing member in her early 50s sadly passed away just a year after her diagnosis — bringing home the urgency and importance of continued support for charities like LMRUK.
With over 8,000 members and 70 staff, the club generates a constant flow of donated items. A separate nursery for 120 children nearby also contributes to community involvement. In an added sustainable twist, the club now places lost property — left behind by members — into the donation cycle. Items are kept for four weeks, and if unclaimed, washed, dried, and donated directly into the LMRUK bank.
“It’s a win-win,” Deena said. “We reduce waste, support the circular economy, and raise funds for vital research. Plus, with the boom in ‘pre-loved’ fashion, many of the high-quality items donated are given a new lease on life — all for a good cause.”
The 3-1-5 Health Club is one of many donation points supported by LMRUK across the North West. Dr Joanna Tilley, Operations Director at LMRUK, praised the club’s efforts:
“Clothing recycling banks are a simple but powerful way to raise funds for our vital research. We’re so grateful to Sean, Deena, and the entire 3-1-5 community for their incredible contribution. This is a fantastic effort — and we’re proud to honour their work with our Business Impact Award.”
