Children and young people’s cancer support charity CLIC Sargent has won a partnership with retailer Morrisons worth around £7 million.
The charity faced strong competition from Age UK in the supermarket’s staff ballot last month, which saw 50,000 or the supermarket giant’s workers cast their votes to decide who would become their next Raise a Smile charity partner.
Now CLIC Sargent plans to use this new funding, to be raised by Morrisons staff and customers over the next three years, to increase the amount of financial support it provides to young people and families who are struggling with the extra living expenses a cancer diagnosis brings, like long-distance travel for specialist treatment.
The UK-wide charity will also expand its specialist nursing programme, which maximises the amount of time that young people can spend safely at home, and invest in other essential projects that will reduce the devastating impact of cancer on young lives.
Kate Lee, chief executive of CLIC Sargent, said: "We can't wait to start fundraising with the wonderful people at Morrisons, and welcome them all to join CLIC Sargent’s fight for young lives against cancer.
"Our nurses, social workers and other frontline staff across the UK work tirelessly to limit the damage cancer causes beyond a child or young person's health.
“Now together with Morrisons, we’ll be able to stop cancer destroying more young lives than ever.
“Thousands of people across the UK got involved in our campaign - and without you this simply wouldn’t have happened. We cannot thank you all enough.”
David Scott, head of corporate affairs at Morrisons, said: “Morrisons raised over £7.3m for Sue Ryder during our last partnership, to help give more people the care they want at the end of their lives.
“Our staff were at the heart of that partnership and I’m confident they’ll help us make a real difference to the families supported by CLIC Sargent. We’re delighted to be working with such a fantastic cause over the next three years.”
Over a thousand of CLIC Sargent's supporters and service users signed up to champion the charity at a local level ahead of, and during the ballot.
The charity's campaign also saw families helped by CLIC Sargent fronting the appeal on posters, and speaking out about their experiences via social, local and national media.
