Celebrations are underway at Hutton Way in Carlisle – the highest fundraising SPAR store in Cumbria for charity Marie Curie.
The SPAR store has raised £4,555.45 for the charity since March 2017 when SPAR first announced its national partnership with Marie Curie.
It has achieved the amount through a number of in-store initiatives including raffles, cakes sales, a second-hand book, DVD and games table, and the everyday generosity of customers who donate money into the Marie Curie collection boxes.
The celebrations at Carlisle are part of a wider £500,000 fundraising milestone achieved by Preston-based James Hall & Co. Ltd, SPAR UK’s regional wholesaler and distributor for northern England, which owns and services the Hutton Way store.
Alongside yellow donation boxes within stores, James Hall & Co. Ltd supports Marie Curie through a number of initiatives.
These include the charity’s annual Great Daffodil Appeal in March and the National Day of Reflection (March 23), when Marie Curie encourages everyone to wear a daffodil pin and take a moment to show their support for the millions of people bereaved during the pandemic and remember the people we’ve lost.
The company donates a penny to Marie Curie from the sale of every SPAR sandwich sold in one of the 600 SPAR stores it services in northern England, and James Hall & Co. Ltd has helped distribute PPE to frontline Marie Curie Nurses throughout the duration of the pandemic.
Marie Curie provides essential frontline nursing and hospice care for people with any terminal illness, as well as a free support line, and a wealth of information and support on all aspects of dying, death and bereavement.
Maureen Smith, Store Manager at Hutton Way SPAR, said: “I’m thrilled that our store is the highest fundraiser in Cumbria for Marie Curie. We have a passionate team here at Hutton Way who really go above and beyond to raise money for an amazing charity.
“This total could not be achieved with our superb customers who are so generous with their donations. Whether it is the donation boxes or anything special we are hosting in-store, they are always willing to support our endeavours, and ultimately, help fund Marie Curie Nurses in communities across Cumbria.”
Linda McCarten, Senior Healthcare Assistant at Marie Curie, said: “I’ve worked in the care sector for more than 30 years and excellent end of life care is of paramount importance. I joined Marie Curie 13 years ago after I saw at close quarters the fantastic end of life care they provided to a relative of mine, and after I personally experienced the empathy the charity’s frontline team provided for our wider family at that time.
“To have the support of SPAR and James Hall & Co. Ltd really is amazing, and £500,000 is a brilliant total to have reached. This helps fund our critical work. I’m a regular at my local SPAR store, and it has supported me through the pandemic too as a collection point for PPE, enabling me to carry on doing the work I love for Marie Curie.”
Niels Dekkers, Retail Development Director at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “The £500,000 milestone for Marie Curie is a huge achievement for our company, and it is a very proud moment for James Hall & Co. Ltd. Marie Curie provide an incredible end of life care service and we are delighted to be able to support this invaluable work.
“This latest milestone, coming just 12 months after reaching the £400,000 mark, could not have been achieved so quickly without the kind-heartedness of our loyal customers across the north of England, combined with the commitment and inventiveness of our stores and their fundraising initiatives. I would like to congratulate our team at Hutton Way for their brilliant fundraising work.”
