Published: Sunday, 11th May, 2008 09:00
Tesco pair praised over cash efforts for charity
By Steve McElroy
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FUNDRAISER: Julie Stokes shows off her gong.
TWO supermarket workers have been rewarded for helping to raise thousands of pounds for charity.
Julie Stokes and Lesley Dalziel, who work at store giant Tesco’s Helensburgh branch, received glass plaques for their efforts in raising the cash in the Cancer Research UK’s 5k Race for Life — the country’s largest women-only fundraising event.
As official partner, Tesco is supporting the event for the seventh year, helping to raise £180 million towards pioneering work to help beat cancer.
The company say that the “tremendous success” of the partnership is due to the dedication and enthusiasm of staff like the pair, who not only participate in the 5K themselves, but also encourage their colleagues and customers to join in too.
And at the next Race for Life in Glasgow Green in June 8, they will be joined by around 20 other staff members from the Sinclair Street branch.
To celebrate the amazing achievement, David Reid, Chairman of Tesco, presented both women with tokens of appreciation for their exceptional effort.
The duo — along with five other workers from stores across Scotland — received their awards at the Taste of Scotland event in Glasgow.
Praising them, Angus Bell, Scottish Marketing Manager, said: “Lesley and Julie are the driving force for Race for Life in our Helensburgh store and have shown extraordinary spirit, going the extra mile to ensure vital funds are raised to help beat cancer faster by rousing support of staff and customers in their store.”
Julie and Lesley raised a magnificent £5,200 last year at the event and they are aiming to go the extra mile again this time and hope to do even better.
Their whopping cash total was down to the generosity of customers and friends and involved providing collecting buckets at checkouts asking shoppers to give generously.
They also spent days off bag-packing for customers at the branch.
Check-out worker Julie was delighted to receive the award.
She said: “We are putting the buckets at the end of the checkouts again, asking customers to donate and will also be holding bag-backing for them starting this week.
“Last time we had about 25 staff and a couple of customers from the store taking part. They put in a tremendous effort.
She added: “It’s not a race. It’s not about winning, it’s about taking part and raising as much money for Cancer Research as we can. Not everyone runs, some jog others walk. Women of all ages and fitness levels come together to raise money and walk, jog or run 5K.
“We hope we can raise at least as much money again and even more this time as everyone put in a tremendous effort the last time.”
Throughout the UK, women have been donning training shoes and getting set to take part in the event, which will see a staggering 750,000 women participating to raise over £50million to fund vital life saving work.
Chloe Cowan, Cancer Research UK senior research nurse at the Beatson Cancer Care Centre, in Glasgow, said: “Fundraising events like Race for Life make a real difference. I see first hand the impact that the money raised has on research into cancer prevention and treatment. Julie and Lesley and all their colleagues at Tesco help to raise fantastic amounts of money each year in Scotland.”
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