Morrisons enter 4th year of fundraising for young people with cancer

Morrisons is celebrating entering the fourth year of their partnership with CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading charity for young people with cancer.  The supermarket has been raising money for the charity since February 2017 with their total currently standing at an impressive £11 million for young lives facing cancer.

Originally a three year partnership with a target of £8 million, this was quickly increased to £10 million due to the success of fundraising in the first year.  In February 2019, following a colleague vote, the partnership was extended to include a fourth year. The partnership is now aiming to raise £15 million by February 2021, due to the continued generosity of Morrisons colleagues and customers, with the final year of fundraising opening a new CLIC Sargent Home from Home in Manchester – a place for families to stay while their child is receiving cancer treatment nearby.

The third year of the partnership has been one to celebrate, with the partnership being named ‘best partnership with a children’s health charity’ at the Better Society Awards in May. 133 Morrisons colleagues also took part in a special Mount Snowdon trek to raising £56,000 for the partnership alongside stores, sites and head office teams organising their own fundraising throughout the year. From head shaves and teddy bear walks, to region-wide static cycling competitions and summer carnival events, all parts of the country got involved to make year three of the partnership a huge success.

The third year of the partnership closed with fundraising to mark World Cancer Day (4 Feb). Morrisons is hoping to raise £1 million from all World Cancer Day activity this year and Morrisons colleagues and CLIC Sargent volunteers across the country took part in bucket collections and fundraising in Morrisons stores from 1-4^th February.

Shoppers at Morrisons will also have even more opportunities to support young cancer patients when doing their shopping this World Cancer Day via their ‘Every Pack Gives Back’ campaign. From 20^th January until 25^th February, a bumper 144 special products from 21 Morrisons suppliers will be on sale in-store and online to mark World Cancer Day. Brands including Cadbury, Kelloggs, Walkers, Kenco, Yorkshire Tea, Britvic Fairy, VO5 and Andrex and many more will be donating up to 20p per product sold in store and online to children facing cancer.

This is the 6th multi supplier Every Pack Gives Back campaign since Morrisons first partnered with the charity in 2017 with £1.4 million has been raised so far. Thanks to Morrisons supplier involvement, this is due to be the biggest campaign yet.

Rachel Kirby-Rider, Director of Income and Engagement at CLIC Sargent says:

“Morrisons are incredible and we are so grateful to have their support as a charity partner. We’re in awe of what they have raised for CLIC Sargent in the past three years and we are so excited to be working with them for a fourth year as we work towards opening a brand new Home from Home in Manchester. Their support has helped thousands of families affected by cancer and we can’t thank them enough for their ongoing support.”

Andy Atkinson, Commercial Director at Morrisons added:

“We love having CLIC Sargent as our charity partner. The cause and the support CLIC Sargent gives to young people and families has really resonated with Morrisons colleagues and customers. We’re delighted at how much money we’ve been able to raise so far – and the impact that is having. This fourth year is an exciting one for us as we aim to reach our £15 million target and open the Manchester Home from Home – a lasting legacy to our record-breaking partnership with CLIC Sargent.”

As well as taking over Morrisons stores with Every Pack Gives Back products, CLIC Sargent volunteers were in Morrisons stores across the country for World Cancer Day bucket collections between 1 -4 February. Limited edition World Cancer Day wristbands were also on sale, for a suggested donation of £2, raising money for young lives facing cancer.

Find out which Every Pack Gives Back products are on the special offer here 

ENDS

 Notes to editors

For more information please contact Aimee Lawless, Communications Officer –aimee.lawless@younglivesvscancer.org.uk or 07771 824563.

About cancer in children and young people

Today, 12 more children and young people in the UK will hear the devastating news that they have cancer. Treatment normally starts immediately, is often given many miles from home and can last for up to three years. Although survival rates are over 80%, cancer remains the single largest cause of death from disease in children and young people in the UK.

About CLIC Sargent

When cancer strikes young lives CLIC Sargent helps families limit the damage cancer causes beyond their health. CLIC Sargent is the UK’s leading charity for young cancer patients and their families. We provide specialist support, to help and guide each young cancer patient and their family. We will fight tirelessly for them, individually, locally and nationally. For more information, visit www.clicsargent.org.uk

Note to sub editors

Please note that the name ‘CLIC Sargent’ should not be abbreviated to CLIC, and that the word ‘CLIC’ should always appear in capitals, as above.