We have recently reached our target of raising over £2 million for the NSPCC and CHILDREN 1ST since the partnership began in 2006. Our wholesalers, retailers and employees continue to run a variety of events to raise funds for their local CHILDREN 1ST projects and services.
Lending a hand
Marathon man
Philippe Rondepierre, SPAR Scotland Business Development Controller at our Scottish distributor, C J Lang & Son Ltd, has raised over £4,000 by running not one but three marathons in support of CHILDREN 1ST. He crossed the finish line of the London Marathon in 4 hours, 13 minutes, completed the scenic Loch Ness Marathon in 3 hours, 56 minutes, and made a triumphant sprint to the finish of the Dublin marathon in 3 hours, 48 minutes. Philippe had never run a marathon before he took up the challenge – that man deserves a medal, or three!
Bags of cash
C J Lang & Son, SPAR’s distributor in Scotland, has raised a staggering £99,163 for CHILDREN 1st by charging customers 2p for a carrier bag. The initiative was introduced in September 2008 to help save the planet and encourage customers to reuse plastic bags or bring bags from home for their shopping.
Putting the ‘fun’ into fundraising
Botterills convenience store - SPAR in Scotland - staff recently presented CHILDREN 1ST with a total of £12,500, raised through various events held in stores. The staff raised money from events such as karaoke, kids’ face-painting, raffles and tombolas.
It’s all kicking off
SPAR Westwood in Scotland recently held a football fun day and raised £195 for CHILDREN 1ST. Store staff wore their Scotland shirts with pride and a few silly hats too. They also raised money by raffling mini fridges and teddy bears as well as receiving generous donations from customers. Store manager Gary Larkin said: “Our football-themed fun days are exactly that: fun. We always have a collection tin in store for CHILDREN 1ST but we hope to do another themed event in the autumn, with a football flavour!”
Carry on campaigning
Colin Landsborough from SPAR in Carnoustie recently handed over a cheque for £1,600 to CHILDREN 1st, which brings the money he and his staff have raised so far to £4,700. This fantastic fundraising effort has made CHILDREN 1ST and SPAR extremely proud.
Let them eat cake
Staff at C J Lang & Son’s head office had a bake-athon in order to raise money for CHILDREN 1ST on Kilts for Kids Day. Everyone filled their plates (and bellies!) with cakes and filled CHILDREN 1ST’s collection can with over £300!”
Netting charity cash
Twelve energetic SPAR employees from East Kilbride, Glasgow, braved some atrocious weather to help disadvantaged children by competing in a sponsored football tournament at Fives, in Nerston, East Kilbride. The event saw six teams from SPAR compete in a series of matches and raise over £600 for CHILDREN 1ST. Keith Lindsay from SPAR’s Westwood store in East Kilbride, said: “We didn’t let the rain put a dampener on things. All the teams were really up for the match and raising money for kids in Scotland. We’re thankful to all the companies, friends and customers who sponsored us and to the teams who took part in the challenge.