A year of fundraising at Valero Pembroke Refinery has drawn to a close, with a surprise donation to the refinery's 2013 Charity of the Year, Macmillan Cancer Support.

Every year, employees and contractors at Valero vote by ballot for a charity to support for 12 months. In 2013, they chose Macmillan, the national charity who provide practical, medical and financial support for those with cancer and push for better cancer care.

Fundraising events by refinery personnel throughout the year have included the Pembrokeshire Dawn Walk, which raised £23,000 in May, a Spring Ball in April, which raised over £11,000, the Macmillan 'World's Biggest Coffee Morning' in October, the recent Pembroke Castle Christmas Market, as well as numerous other acts of individual and group fundraising. In addition, Macmillan was one of three charities to receive a £25,000 donation during the September visit to Pembroke of the Valero board of directors.

Stephen Thornton, Valero public affairs manager, said: "As 2013 draws to a close, we wanted to mark Valero's fundraising efforts for this truly remarkable charity. Macmillan is very close to our hearts here at Valero, and we have been delighted that the additional focus given to them by being our Charity of the Year has resulted in such a wonderful amount raised for this incredible cause."

Representatives of Macmillan were very grateful for the year-long support of their important work, as they received a cheque for £2,500 from members of the Valero Volunteer Council.

Sue Reece, regional fundraiser for Macmillan, said: "On behalf of everyone at Macmillan, I would like to say a huge thank you for the amazing efforts given during 2013 by the kind staff at Valero.

"The support we have received has been phenomenal, and we want to recognise the amazing efforts made by staff and contractors here at the refinery who have given so much - whether in donations or as volunteers - to Macmillan over the last 12 months."