Alzheimer Scotland, Alzheimer’s Society and Scotmid Co-operative raised way over their £250,000 target
A charity’s fundraising partnership with a supermarket has come to an end, having exceeded its target by 50%.
Alzheimer Scotland and Alzheimer’s Society year-long tie in with Scotmid Co-operative raised £375,000.
The money raised will be used to fund specialist dementia advisors, as well as supporting a range of community initiatives such as Dementia Cafes, singing groups, allotments and reminiscence projects up and down the country.
Henry Simmons, Alzheimer Scotland chief executive, said being able to invest in these areas will make a huge difference and achieve a real and lasting benefit for people living with dementia and their families.
We have been overwhelmed by the amount raised for our services and the work done to increase dementia awareness
“On behalf of Alzheimer Scotland and Alzheimer’s Society, I would like to thank staff and customers across the Scotmid Co-operative family for their incredible support, enthusiasm and commitment to our cause during our charity partnership.” He said.
“We have been overwhelmed by the amount raised for our services and the work done to increase dementia awareness across the business, helping to ensure that no one has to face dementia alone.”
Initially it was hoped £250,000 could be raised but with staff and customers taking the cause to heart fundraising activity, such as a cycle to Paris and trekking up mountains, to store raffles, sweepstakes and head shaves, that target was soon smashed.
With over 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland and the number set to double in a generation, the partnership also aimed though to challenge perceptions about people living with dementia, as well as raising money.
The Scotmid Co-operative group which includes Semichem and Co-operative Funerals, as well as the supermarket chain, created dementia friendly environments for customers in stores and hosted dementia awareness stands and a Memory Bus roadshow during Dementia Awareness Week. Over 100 staff signed up to the charity’s scheme to become Dementia Friends.
John Brodie, chief executive of Scotmid Co-operative, said: “Very quickly we found out that alzheimer’s and dementia touches so many lives and this struck a chord especially with our employees who embarked on a year of fundraising that helped raise an astonishing £375,000.
“I would like to give my personal thanks to everyone involved in the past year’s fundraising and I hope that this money raised will help the great work being carried out by Alzheimer Scotland and Alzheimer’s Society.”
