Shoppers across Northern Ireland kicked off a sensational summer of fundraising when they supported their local SPAR stores’ Blooming Great Summer Fundraisers for Marie Curie, donating over £55,000 for the charity.
Over one weekend in June, stores operating across Northern Ireland held various tea parties, coffee mornings, fancy dress days and fun days for their shoppers, to raise vital funds for the charity which provides end of life care for thousands across the country.
It came hot on the heels of a successful Balmoral Show, where show-goers donated over £26,700 for both Marie Curie and Cancer Fund for Children. Earlier in the year, store activity around the charity’s annual Great Daffodil Appeal raised almost £16,000.
So far this year, SPAR NI store teams and shoppers have raised an incredible £98,396 for their charity partner, and £798,717 since the partnership began in 2017.
“We have had an exceptional first half of the year, dedicated to raising vital funds for our charity partner which does so much for so many in our communities,” Bronagh Luke, head of corporate marketing at Henderson Group, which owns SPAR in Northern Ireland commented.
“Our key events, from the Great Daffodil Appeal to Balmoral Show and the Blooming Great Summer Fundraisers, show there is an army of staff and shoppers willing to go the extra mile for our charity partners, and I want to thank each and every one for making 2023 such a successful year of fundraising already.”
SPAR NI now looks forward to supporting Marie Curie on the annual Twilight Walk, which takes place on Friday 29 September at Shaw’s Bridge in Belfast, as the charity marks its 75th anniversary this year. Participants can either take part in the main event or organise their own walk by registering online.
Conor O’Kane, senior partnership manager at Marie Curie, said: “From the big events to the everyday donations at the till, SPAR NI has been one of our most active and dedicated partners since 2017. Their creativity and commitment to our key fundraising moments throughout the year give us so many opportunities to help those in the local community who need a community nurse for a night, or to provide even more care from our Belfast hospice.
“We’re so grateful for the donations received by the stores and their shoppers which will go towards Marie Curie’s direct nursing care as well as our information and support services and our helpline 0800 090 2309.”
