Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end of life charity, has announced that its valued supporter, SPAR UK, has now raised an incredible £1.5 million for families living with terminal illness. SPAR UK chose Marie Curie as its national charity partner in 2017 and since then SPAR stores have raised a staggering £1.5 million for the charity.

Thanks to the fundraising efforts from independently owned SPAR stores around the UK, 80,000 hours of nursing care or almost 9,000 nursing shifts where patients and families have been given expert care and support has been granted thanks to SPAR’s incredible generosity.

“Marie Curie would like to thank each and every SPAR colleague for their dedication and support to help make a real difference to families living with terminal illness. Now, more than ever, people need Marie Curie nurses to be there for them”, said Tom Heron, Senior Partnership Manager at Marie Curie. “Thanks to SPAR UK’s unbelievable support, Marie Curie has been able to have a nurse by someone’s side for 80,000 hours. It is a phenomenal achievement and we really cannot thank SPAR UK enough.”

Marie Curie delivers expert hands-on care, emotional support, research, and guidance. Marie Curie employs more than 2,700 nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals, and with its nine hospices around the UK, is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS. Key fundraising highlights in support of Marie Curie’s campaigns include the annual Great Daffodil Appeal, the Blooming Great Tea Party, and product donations through instore promotions.

Essential charity activities

Challenge events are a key part of the fundraising activity plan at Marie Curie and SPAR colleagues have been incredible in getting involved with events across the country. In addition to raising vital funds, SPAR also responded to the coronavirus pandemic and the logistical maze the charity was facing in distributing PPE to its Nurses. In the South West, Marie Curie Nurses are able to collect essential PPE from their local SPAR convenience store and continue caring for dying people and their loved ones during this unprecedented time.

Other activities include hospice donations where SPAR wholesalers regularly donate care items to Marie Curie’s nine hospices. Stock drives have also been run in a number of SPAR offices to keep clothes and other items flowing to Marie Curie charity shops.

Finally, SPAR colleagues have created a very large amount of themed fundraisers over the years around Resolution Revolution, Halloween, Christmas, and Easter.

“During the pandemic, SPAR stores have supported NHS staff and vulnerable people in the community by donating personal care products and foodstuffs to banks and hospitals nationwide.  In addition, we are very aware of the caring work Marie Curie nurses have been doing to support the NHS and the vulnerable during this challenging time”, said Alex Hall, Digital Marketing Manager at SPAR UK. “We are proud to support our national charity partner Marie Curie and will continue to do as much as we can to promote the amazing work their nurses do to help families living with terminal illness.”

Source: SPAR UK

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About SPAR UK

The UK became a member of SPAR in 1956 when a group of independent wholesalers was granted the SPAR licence by SPAR International. There are five regional partners in the UK with strategically placed Distribution Centres in each region. A central office, located in London, provides national marketing and buying services for the group and supports the development of the brand.

SPAR has led the convenience market in the UK for many years but has faced increasing competition. Always innovative, the five regional partners have continued to grow the brand. Throughout the UK, a combination of independently-owned licensed retailers and company-owned stores can be found, spanning forecourts, airports, train stations, city centres, and local neighbourhoods.