Argos and Homebase exceed Teenage Cancer Trust fundraising target

Argos and Homebase staff and customers have raised £4.3m for the Teenage Cancer Trust in just under three years, figures show.

The 33-month partnership, which had an initial target of £2m, also helped to increase the number of registered volunteers with the charity from 628 to 5,564.

Staff fundraising included a dating event based on the ITV show Take Me Out, a store-to-store travel challenge using different forms of transport, a naked calendar, a human greyhound race and an ‘I love Argos’ sponsored tattoo. Customers donated nearly £500,000 through store collections.

The partnership included young cancer patients get involved by opening new stores, taking part in work experience at Argos TV and providing the voices for Homebase in-store radio adverts.

The money raised is going towards creating 10 new Teenage Cancer Trust units, which will provide a total of 71 beds dedicated to young people with cancer around the UK and Ireland.

It includes the first specialist teenage cancer facility in the Republic of Ireland, which was funded solely by Argos and Homebase staff and customers in the country.

Funds will also go towards maintaining the charity’s 12 existing units.

Simon Davies, chief executive of the charity, said: "When we first started this partnership we never imagined the huge impact Home Retail Group would ultimately have.

"Its overwhelming support has enabled us to grow our unit build programme so much quicker and has made an enormous contribution to our long-term goal of wanting every young person with cancer to have access to the best possible care and professional support, no matter where they live."

Terry Duddy, chief executive of the Home Retail Group, said: "The charity really struck a chord with our people across the group, who have gone the extra mile to raise money that will make a real difference to the lives of young people affected by cancer in the UK and Ireland."

Source : Jenna Pudelek - Third Sector Online
www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/1170333/teenage-cancer-trust-link-argos-homebase-raises-43m-less-three-years/