Airport Parking & Hotels (APH), the award-winning long-stay airport parking operator, is supporting The University of Southampton by raising vital funds to help build the first dedicated Centre for Cancer Immunology in the UK. In support of the pioneering project, APH Managing Director Nick Caunter and Director Chris Voller embarked on the 'APH 3 Parks Challenge', which saw the duo cycle 240 miles between the APH-owned cark parks at Manchester Airport, Birmingham Airport and London Gatwick Airport.

The University of Southampton has launched a £25 million fundraising campaign to establish the research centre and APH has become a corporate sponsor. In addition, APH is encouraging staff members, together with Nick and Chris, to complete sponsored cycle challenges in the first three weeks of June, which have already raised more than £3,000.

The planned Centre for Cancer Immunology is due to open in Southampton in 2017 and its state-of-the-art facilities will bring world-leading specialists together in one location to help further develop immunotherapy treatments and drive a rapid change in cancer treatments. It will also become the UK's only dedicated cancer immunology centre, and will help double both the number of experts working on research and developing life-saving drugs, as well as expand clinical trials.

Nick Caunter, Managing Director at APH and University of Southampton alumnus, said: “One in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetime but the cutting-edge research taking place at the University of Southampton is already starting to show real results and when we heard about the fundraising campaign, we knew this was a project that APH had to be part of. In addition to being a corporate sponsor, we also decided to raise further funds through our 'APH 3 Parks Cycle Challenge' and I'd like to publicly thank all the APH staff who joined in or assisted in the challenges. We are all proud to show our own support for such a worthwhile cause.”

For more information on the research project, visit www.southampton.ac.uk/youreit and to donate to APH's fundraising campaign, visit www.justgiving.com/teams/APH-3-Parks.

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

Photo Captions

Image 1 (from left to right): Airport Parking & Hotels' (APH) Director Chris Voller and Managing Director Nick Caunter prepare to leave the APH's Manchester Airport car park on 19 June 2015 to start the 240-mile bike ride to Gatwick Airport in support of Southampton University's Cancer Immunology Research.

Image 2 (from left to right): Airport Parking & Hotels' (APH) Managing Director Nick Caunter and Director Chris Voller arrive at APH's Gatwick Airport car park after completing a 240-mile charity bike ride in support of Southampton University's Cancer Immunology Research.

About Airport Parking and Hotels (APH)

Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is the UK's award winning long stay airport parking operator and booking agency, after winning the Best Airport Parking Company for a fifth year running at British Travel Awards 2014. This year APH also celebrates its 35th year as a retailer and operator of pre-booked airport parking and travel extras. APH offers parking at all major UK airports as well as airport hotels packaged with parking and airport lounges. APH is also a carbon balanced company and has, through support of the World Land Trust, helped purchase more than 1,000 acres of endangered rainforest.

About the University of Southampton

Through world-leading research and enterprise activities, the University of Southampton connects with businesses to create real-world solutions to global issues. Through its educational offering, it works with partners around the world to offer relevant, flexible education, which trains students for jobs not even thought of. This connectivity is what sets Southampton apart from the rest; we make connections and change the world. www.southampton.ac.uk and www.southampton.ac.uk/weareconnected. #weareconnected

The cure for cancer? You're it

The University of Southampton has launched a campaign to raise £25m to open the UK's first dedicated Centre for Cancer Immunology.  Find out more about it at www.southampton.ac.uk/youreit

Media Enquiries

Sarah Salord / Lauren Hill / McCluskey International / 020 8747 2170 / aph@mccluskey.co.uk