The achievement was the result of 14 months of fundraising in stores, distribution centres and offices across the UK.
Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Corporate and Legal Affairs Director, Tesco, said: “At a time when you might expect people to be more careful with their money, it’s heartening to see that Tesco staff and customers have raised more than ever before for our Charity of the Year.
“Our partnership with Marie Curie Cancer Care is helping our local communities and I think that’s why so many people have got involved. Everyone can understand the difference Marie Curie Nurses make.
“Everyone at Tesco is delighted that we have raised £6.1 million to help fund Marie Curie Nurses to provide care for terminally ill people in their own homes across the UK.”
How the total was achieved
Tesco staff from every part of the UK ran, walked, cycled, sat in baths of beans and custard, dressed up, dressed down, shaved their legs and chests, jumped out of aeroplanes and climbed mountains to raise money for the charity.
Some of the fundraising highlights of the year included:
- Great Daffodil Appeal Collections held at Tesco stores, which raised £536,000 for the charity. Staff volunteered their time to collect and customers donated more than ever before.
- Two workers from the Tesco Distribution Centre in Daventry scaled the 6,000m-high Island and Mera peaks on Mount Everest and raised £50,000.
- 200 Tesco Superstores in Wales and the south of England took part in a pirates-themed fundraising day, which saw staff holding rowing challenges, treasure hunts and raffles, with some stores even building pirate ships to encourage donations and making their managers walk the plank. The event raised more than £100,000.
- Two clay pigeon shoots organised by Tesco Distribution workers raised over £133,000.
- 200 stores in the North of England and Scotland held a lottery draw which raised £80,000 for the charity.
Fundraising products
Customers also played an important part in helping to raise vital funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care through the purchase of many products that gave donations to the charity. This allowed customers to raise funds at no cost to themselves.
The products included a range of stunning Cath Kidston shopping bags, which raised a nationwide total of £425,000, and a range of Tesco greeting cards which raised £300,000.
Customers who used cash machines at Tesco also raised over £40,000.
How the money will be spent
All of the money will help fund the Marie Curie Nursing Service in the regions where it was raised – meaning fundraising by Tesco staff will be directly benefitting their own local communities.
The total raised will help fund over 300,000 hours of nursing care for over 5,000 terminally ill patients and their families in their own homes.
Marie Curie Nurses provide high quality nursing care, totally free, to give terminally ill patients the choice of dying at home surrounded by their families.
Thomas Hughes-Hallett, Chief Executive, Marie Curie Cancer Care, said: “The money raised from the partnership with Tesco will make a huge difference to the Marie Curie Nursing service across the UK.
"Working with the NHS and other local partners Marie Curie Cancer Care aims to double the number of people with a terminal illness who have the choice to die at home. This money will certainly help us towards that target.
“I’d like to thank everyone at Tesco who has worked to make the partnership such a success.”
