Milton Keynes, UK, 2016-Mar-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — Ireland’s leading general merchandise retailer Argos has raised €80,000 for the Irish Cancer Society, since the launch of its two year partnership in March last year. The money raised so far will fund 3,000 nursing hours at the Irish Cancer Society’s hospital-based Daffodil Centres for people affected by cancer in Ireland, providing cancer information, support and advice in local communities.
Colleagues and customers across Argos’ 40 stores nationwide have reached this impressive total in just 12 months, making this one of the Irish Cancer Society’s fastest growing ‘charity-of-the-year’ partnerships to date. Following the launch of the partnership last March with a Daffodil Day fundraiser, stores have hosted a wide range of events to boost the fundraising total. These include staff fundraisers such as cake sales, raffles, along with participating in the Society’s own campaigns like Colour Dash and Paint it Pink.
Des Barnett, Charity Partnership Manager at Argos Republic of Ireland says: “Since the launch of our charity partnership with the Irish Cancer Society last year, we saw incredibly high levels of engagement from stores right across the country, which is fantastic. We far exceeded our fundraising target for the first year, and having voted to support the Irish Cancer Society, our colleagues will be delighted to know that they are making such a difference to people affected by cancer.”
“We are so pleased to have the support of Argos”, says John McCormack, CEO, Irish Cancer Society. “Every day we are fighting cancer on so many fronts to ensure that less people will die from this terrible disease. We are so grateful, not only for the support from the staff of Argos but also to their customers who have so enthusiastically gotten behind our cause. So far thanks to our partnership with Argos, we can support almost 3,000 visitors to one of our specialist Daffodil Centres, based in hospitals all over Ireland. We look forward to reaching even more people as our partnership continues to grow. Together we won’t give up until cancer does.”
Further fundraising plans by Argos colleagues in 2016 include support of the Irish Cancer Society’s national fundraising events such as Colour Dash, Paint it Pink, and Movember, as well as bespoke fundraising activity linked to key trading periods for the business such as the Argos Catalogue Launch in July.
About Argos
Argos is Ireland’s leading general merchandise retailer and provides a unique offer of choice and convenience. It sells general merchandise and products for the home from 40 stores in the Republic of Ireland and around 800 stores in the UK.
Argos opened its first stores in the Republic in January 1996 in Limerick and Dublin; there is now an Argos catalogue in approximately three quarters of all Irish homes. Argos is already one of the largest retail employers in the country with around 1,100 employees. In 2005, Argos launched its Irish website, www.argos.ie, which now has over 25,000 products online.
About Irish Cancer Society
The Irish Cancer Society is Ireland’s national cancer charity. Established in 1963, the Irish Cancer Society provides information, support and care to those with, and affected by, cancer all over Ireland. Our services are professional, confidential and free of charge. The Society is almost entirely funded through the generosity of the public and receives less than 2% government funding.
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Donna Campbell, from Argos (left) with Des Bartnett, Charity Partnership Manager, Argos and Bernie Healy, Daffodil Centre Cancer Nurse at St. James Hospital, pictured at the announcement of €80,000.00 funds raised in the last twelve months by Argos making the nationwide general retailer one of the Irish Cancer Society’s fastest growing ‘charity-of-the-year’ partnerships to date. The money raised will fund 3,000 nursing hours at the Irish Cancer Society’s hospital-based Daffodil Centres for people affected by cancer in Ireland, providing cancer information, support and advice in local communities. Pic. Robbie Reynolds