SPAR NI staff and shoppers raise over £200,000 for Marie Curie

SPAR NI has announced today that their staff initiatives and shopper donations have helped push SPAR’s UK-wide total for Marie Curie over £1 million.

SPAR stores here began fundraising at the start of the partnership in March 2017 and have contributed over £200,000 to the UK-wide total, which is the equivalent of paying for 10,000 hours of care from Marie Curie Nurses.

Marie Curie provide nursing services for around 4,000 people living with a terminal illness and their families at home in Northern Ireland each year, and care for 500 people in the Belfast Hospice helping families make the most of the time they have together.  

In March 2017, SPAR NI stores supported Marie Curie’s biggest annual fundraiser, the Great Daffodil Appeal,raising over £10,000 by hosting collection boxes and encouraging customers to donate. In June 2018, over 200 stores across Northern Ireland held a Blooming Great Tea Party raising over £75,000 in one morning.

SPAR NI also fundraised through the sales of its sandwich ranges last year, including the popular Christmas sandwich selection, with a donation from each sale going to the charity.

Bronagh Luke, Head of Corporate Marketing at Henderson Group, said: “Our local shoppers and store teams have an incredible track record for fundraising, and we’re very proud to have contributed such a significant amount of money to Marie Curie in Northern Ireland since our partnership began.

“The upcoming Spring 2019 events will include the Great Daffodil Appeal during which we will be selling the iconic daffodil pins throughout our regional stores, as well as the launch of SPAR an Hour, where we’re asking people to donate an hour of their time to volunteer for the charity.”

Last year, SPAR NI also fundraised for the charity at Balmoral Show by offering their famous red Stetsons for a donation, totalling £18, 260 over the four days.

Conor O’Kane, Senior Partnership Manager at Marie Curie NI added: “The support Marie Curie has received from the SPAR NI team since our partnership began has been outstanding. Their store teams across Northern Ireland ensure their communities are all on board with our national incentives, but also create their own localised fundraising drives which just goes to show the level of passion for fundraising and compassion for the organisation.

“We are truly grateful to SPAR NI and all who have donated through their events and in-store initiatives, making such a significant contribution to the £1 million milestone in the UK.”

To find out more about SPAR NI’s work with Marie Curie Northern Ireland, visit SPAR NI online.