 |  |  | | | Argos doubles target to hit £800,000 for charity partner Leukaemia Research | | | | |
| |  Argos fundraisers
Release Date: 23 July 2008
A match made in corporate partnership heaven has seen leading multi-channel retailer Argos pulling out all the stops for cancer charity Leukaemia Research, smashing the year-long charity partnership’s original target of £400,000 to raise a fantastic £800,000.
The key to the Saving and Improving Lives Together partnership success lies in the way Argos’ 34,000 staff and its customers across the popular retailer’s 670-plus UK stores got together to raise funds through community events, team-building activities, competitions and in-store promotions.
Meanwhile, Leukaemia Research’s network of volunteers from its 150 Branches and fundraising groups turned out for charity collections, held nationwide at Argos stores at catalogue launches. The events, in July 2007 and January 2008, raised £45,000.
Alex Robinson, Corporate Relations Manager for the partnership, says: "The partnership worked so well because Argos has the infrastructure to motivate its workforce and Leukaemia Research has volunteers nationwide who can support these activities."
Media targets were also smashed as Argos fundraising activities provided a constant source of stories for the Leukaemia Research press office to send to local papers.
The money raised by the Saving and Improving Lives Together partnership will support a special cytogenetic database, which will record symptoms and treatments of different types of blood cancer to make future treatment more effective.
Everyone in the company got into the spirit of the partnership. Argos Directors joined in the fun with a ‘Directors’ Challenge’, turning the £100 they were each given into over £45,000.
Store-led fundraising events ranged from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ themed events to leg and chest waxes. The multi-channel retailer also launched a viral Giant Jar competition, as a ‘guess the number of items’ competition. The items were then donated to Leukaemia Research, who gave the toys to Great Ormond Street’s children’s wards.
In-store, the ‘Tick to Give’ option on Argos order forms, offering customers the opportunity to donate 20p to Leukaemia Research whilst ordering products, raised £54,000. Bananaman superhero charms, in stores from February 2008, raised over £10,000.The multi-channel retailer also took part in the charity’s Bananaman Chase10k run in Milton Keynes, the location of Argos headquarters.
Kate White, Director of Fundraising for Leukaemia Research said: "Saving and Improving Lives Together, our campaign with Argos will make a real difference to the lives of the 110,000 people in the UK living with blood cancer. We’d like to say a huge thank you to Argos employees and customers for helping Leukaemia Research raise £800,000, this will help us fund vital research which will save lives."
Lorna Liggett, Community Affairs Manager at Argos, said: "The ‘Saving and Improving Lives Together’ campaign has surpassed all our expectations - staff and customers have really got behind the partnership activity and we’re happy to have achieved so much for such a wonderful charity."
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