MACL Fishathon raises £24,800 for Lighthouse Charity in its sixth year

M. Anderson Construction Ltd (MACL) raised £24,801.25 for Lighthouse Charity at its sixth annual Fishathon in September, the Chelmsford-based groundworks contractor's charity fishing weekend that began in 2021 with a total of £6,200.

The charity said 45 people took part in the weekend of fishing and fundraising, which brought together MACL colleagues, friends, suppliers and subcontractors. Money raised goes towards the charity's support for construction workers in the UK and Ireland.

Lighthouse Charity said the event continues to grow and that, with the fundraising page still open, the final figure could rise further.

Ellesse Parris of Lighthouse Charity attended the weekend and spoke to participants about what fundraising means for construction workers and their families. She said: "I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part and for MACL for organising this magnificent event again. We're so grateful for your support".

The weekend

Anglers competed for a range of awards. Alex Butters landed the biggest fish of the event and Josh Murdy won the prize for the most fish caught, the charity said.

Charity representatives joined the traditional Saturday barbecue to tell participants and their families how donations are used. H & D Craft Services ran a coffee van over the weekend, and raffle prizes and sponsorship came from organisations across the industry.

The charity's post about this year's event is headlined "MACL Fishathon 2027", although it is dated 5 October 2026 and refers to the event taking place in September.

Six years of fundraising

Lighthouse Charity's own posts show the event has grown since it started. The first Fishathon in 2021 raised £6,200. The 2022 event, a 48-hour session at Crowsheath Fisheries in Billericay held from 19 to 21 August, more than doubled that to £14,370, with 30 anglers from Anderson taking part.

In 2023 the total reached £22,688, taking the running figure past £40,000 after three years. The fourth event in 2024, again at Crowsheath Fisheries with 30 anglers fishing overnight, raised £23,195 against a £20,000 target, helped by £10,000 of match funding from the Anderson Foundation. By the end of 2024 the charity said the Fishathon had raised more than £60,000 since it began.

Thirty anglers took part in both the 2022 and 2024 events, according to the charity, which put this year's number of participants at 45.

The Fishathon is organised by MACL project manager Steve Townley and senior site manager Ron Sant. According to the charity, it is intended to raise awareness of wellbeing in construction as well as money.

Sant said in 2023: "Fishing is an activity that is great for the mind so as well as raising money for the fantastic Lighthouse Charity, the fishathon brings people together and encourages conversation."

Recognition

MACL received the Peter Capel Cup at the Lighthouse Charity lunch in December 2024. The charity said the cup is awarded each year for outstanding achievements by organisations supporting it.

MACL describes itself as an infrastructure, civil engineering and groundworks company based in Chelmsford, Essex, with a turnover above £70m and operations across 18 locations.

Lighthouse Charity has supported the construction community since 1956. It provides 24/7 support on emotional, physical and financial wellbeing through a free, confidential helpline, live web chat and text service, and its Wellbeing Academy offers free soft skills and leadership training.

The charity's post about this year's event was published on 5 October 2026, and the Fishathon fundraising page remains active.