SPAR UK celebrates raising £2m for Marie Curie

SPAR, the leading convenience store group in the UK, has announced a huge fundraising milestone by raising £2 million for Marie Curie since the partnership began, the equivalent of 100,000 hours of care from a Marie Curie Nurse.

SPAR UK chose Marie Curie as its national charity partner in 2017 and reached the incredible landmark through in-store fundraising, customer donations and on-pack product donations.

The money raised has helped Marie Curie, the UK's leading end of life charity, to continue providing essential frontline nursing and hospice care for people living with any terminal illness and their loved ones. Marie Curie also provides a free support service, offering practical information and emotional support on all aspects of death, dying, and bereavement.

In addition to raising vital funds, SPAR UK also stepped up and helped respond to the coronavirus pandemic by distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) to Marie Curie Nurses delivering frontline care. In the South West and across the North of England, Marie Curie Nurses have been able to collect their essential PPE from their local SPAR convenience store. This has ensured they have been able to continue caring and supporting dying people and their loved ones in the community during this disruptive time. To date, SPAR has helped deliver over 1 million pieces of PPE to Marie Curie Nurses.

Megan Townshend, Senior Partnership Manager at Marie Curie said: "SPAR isn't just a partnership that raises money. The entire organisation has integrated what they do to benefit the vital work of Marie Curie. That includes the incredible support SPAR has given distributing vital PPE to our staff during the pandemic, to Go Yellow days in stores, and my personal favourite, the much loved SPAR sandwich that includes a donation to Marie Curie.

"It's important to also acknowledge SPAR's loyal customers who make it all possible. We can't thank them enough for continuing to donate generously to Marie Curie and supporting all the fundraising initiatives. Thanks to SPAR stores and their customers, Marie Curie has been able to give people at the end of life and their loved ones, the care and support they really need."

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

Louise Hoste, SPAR UK Managing Director, said: "SPAR has a long tradition of supporting good causes and giving back to communities in which our stores serve. Our partnership represents our collective commitment to help Marie Curie Nurses provide the care they need to give to people living with a terminal illness.

"I would like to thank all our colleagues around the UK for their fundraising efforts. Their commitment and support for Marie Curie has been exceptional. We are proud to continue to do everything we can to support Marie Curie in the coming year."