Blakemore Retail Colleagues Raise £1,112 for Derbyshire Hospice

January 30, 2018

Blakemore Retail colleagues from four SPAR stores in the Derbyshire area have raised £1,112 for Ashgate Hospicecare, together with match funding from the Blakemore Foundation.

Colleagues from the stores Holmewood, Walton, Inkersall and Bakewell raised the funds during a hospice fundraising week last October, which included a tombola stall and in-store raffles with prizes such as chocolate and wine.

Ashgate Hospicecare, based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, provides free care and services to patients with life-limiting illnesses as well as offering support to their families.

The stores’ support of the hospice goes back to 2016, when Holmewood Store Manager Tim Farmer agreed with other stores in the area to support the local charity.

Since then, colleagues from the stores have volunteered their time at Ashgate Hospicecare’s annual Christmas Fayre, by sourcing Christmas presents and running stalls, as well as collecting and donating a cage of water last year to support the hospice’s sponsored cycle ride.

Staff from the hospice have shown their appreciation by visiting the Holmewood store and assisting in store openings and relaunches in the area.

Tim said: "I am so pleased to have built up this relationship with such a worthy cause and could never have envisaged how the link would develop. It makes me so proud of our people and the company that we are able to support Ashgate Hospicecare and present them with a cheque for £1,112.

“With the hospice being a local charity, customers really respond to the in-store fundraising and it is so worthwhile to be able to help to give a little back.  We intend to make the fundraising week in October and the Christmas Fayre an annual event for stores in the area." 

Pictured above: Ashgate Hospicecare Events Co-ordinator Charlotte Gratton collects a cheque for £1,112 from Store Managers Pam James (Walton), Jordan Mason (Inkersall) and Tim Farmer (Holmewood)

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