A pioneering roadshow providing information and support to people affected by cancer has reached almost 40,000 people in seven years.

Analysis of statistics for the recently concluded Macmillan Cancer Support roadshow, which was project managed by Event Marketing Solutions (EMS), reveals that:
– 39,812 people visited the mobile information unit during the seven-year UK campaign (2001-2007)
– The roadshow visited a total of 321 different locations – mainly towns and city centres, which proved most successful in generating footfall
– The campaign engaged with an average of 50 people per day
– The roadshow was particularly successful at attracting men, who made up around 40% of visitors (Macmillan’s static information and support centres typically see less than 20% of male visitors)
– The 2007 tour engaged with 7,002 people over 146 days
– Nottingham, York and Glasgow were the top three destinations in 2007, attracting almost 100 people per day, which was twice the average.

The aim of the roadshow was to provide a full information and support service to people affected by cancer – whether those suffering from the disease or their family and friends.

By taking their service out on the road, Macmillan wanted to reach out to a wider audience than they were able to via their community-based, static information and support centres.

EMS created a bespoke mobile unit to offer a secure and welcoming environment for visitors to ask questions and discuss their concerns – as well as a comprehensive, walk-through exhibition of 250 different pieces of literature. The company also handled all planning, logistics and delivery of the campaign.

Duncan Innes, Mobile Information Centre Manager for Macmillan Cancer Support during the seven-year campaign, said: “Almost 40,000 people have been helped through this roadshow and we are very proud of that.

“A lot of people were in real need of information and support – we were tapping into a need that is not being reached by other means, helping people who were being missed by the system.”

“The campaign was very successful,” he continued, “and we are leaving behind a valuable legacy, not just in terms of the people we have helped, but also the huge amount we have learned about running a successful roadshow.

“Having a quality partner like EMS has made our job much easier, because we could rely on them to handle all the organisational side, so we were able to focus on reaching out to people affected by cancer.”

Keith Austin, managing director of EMS, said his company had been privileged to work alongside Macmillan for this inspiring campaign. “It is a powerful example of how a roadshow can help an organisation to reach out to a wider audience,” he said, “in this case delivering vital information and support to people in real need.”

EVENTS:review joined MacMillan Cancer Care on the road. Click the following link to view the video: Help at hand