The partnership, which lasts until December 31, will see Tesco staff committing a huge amount of time and effort throughout the year to raise vital funds for their local Marie Curie nursing service in the whole of North east Scotland.

Under the theme of 'Providing more nursing care at home', Tesco staff and customers are aiming to raise £2.5 million to fund an additional 125,000 hours of nursing care for patients and their families in local communities in the North east and across the UK.

Throughout 2008, staff at Tesco stores across the North east will be undertaking a whole host of fundraising events in store to raise funds for their Charity of the Year. Tesco customers will also be able to do their bit by purchasing selected products in store where a donation is going directly to the charity.

Ten pence from every specially-labelled card purchased from the Tesco standard range of Greeting Cards will go to Marie Curie throughout the year. A donation from the purchase of fresh Speciality daffodils in store will go to the charity, and a Marie Curie Cancer Care spring bouquet is available from Tesco.com with £2 of the purchase price going to Marie Curie.

Marie Curie Cancer Care was selected by Tesco as its Charity of the Year because of the vital service its nurses provide in local communities throughout the UK. The charity provides high quality nursing, totally free, to give terminally ill patients the choice of dying at home, supported by their families. Most people want to die at home, but in reality half the population die in hospital the place they least want to be.

Community Fundraising Manager for Marie Curie in the North East of Scotland, Michael Jamieson said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to raise funds for our local Marie Curie nursing service. There will be lots of opportunities for staff and customers across the whole of the North east of Scotland to get involved and help us hit our national target of £2.5 million.

"All of the money raised by Tesco staff and customers in the North east will be spent in their local communities. By simply taking part in fundraising events or buying selected products in store and online, Tesco staff and customers will be helping Marie Curie Cancer Care support terminally ill people in local communities across the UK."

Tesco Customer Services Manager, Allan Newlands said: "We are delighted to be working with Marie Curie Cancer Care. Marie Curie Nurses provide a vital service throughout the North east and I'm sure that our staff and customers will really get behind the campaign.

"I know that my colleagues throughout the North east of Scotland are really excited about working with the charity and we're totally committed to raising vital funds, and having fun whilst we're doing it, in the months ahead. We're sure that the campaign will be a huge success."

For more information about Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Tesco Charity of the Year 2008 and ways to get involved, visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/tesco.