STAFF at Inverurie's Tesco Extra store have raised £4,707.22 for their charity of the year, Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Their efforts have helped towards the £6.1 million raised nationally as part of Tesco's 2008 Charity of the Year Partnership - a figure that has broken all previous fundraising records for a Tesco Charity of the Year, and this despite the current cre
dit crunch.
A variety of fundraising events were organised - 'go yellow' days, collections for Marie Curie Cancer Care's Great Daffodil Appeal, and several other in-store events.
Customers played an important part in raising the vital funds through the purchase of many products that donated money to the charity. This allowed customers to contribute to the fund with no cost to themselves.
The huge range of Cath Kidston shopping bags raised a nationwide total of £450,000, a range of Tesco greeting cards raised £300,000 and customers who used a cash machine at Tesco helped to raise over £40,000.
Marie Curie Cancer Care North East Scotland Community Fund Raising manager, Michael Jamieson, said: "Tesco staff and customers have raised a phenomenal amount of money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Despite the fact that everyone is watching their pennies at the moment, staff and customers have fairly come up trumps in raising this amount of money.
"I'm fair chuffed and I want to thank each and every person who has made the partnership such a success. They should be very proud.
"Working with the NHS and other local partners, Marie Curie Cancer Care aims to double the number of people with a terminal illness who have the choice to die at home. The £6.1 million will certainly help us towards our goal."
Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Corporate and Legal Affairs director, Tesco, said: "At a time when you might expect people to be more careful with their money, it's heartening to see that Tesco staff and customers have raised more than ever before for our Charity of the Year.
"Our partnership with Marie Curie Cancer Care is helping our local communities and I think that's why so many people have got involved. Everyone can understand the difference Marie Curie Nurses make.
"Everyone at Tesco is delighted that we have £6.1 million to help fund Marie Curie nurses to provide care for terminally ill people in their own homes across the UK."
The money raised by Inverurie Tesco Extra will help fund 235 hours of nursing care for terminally ill patients in their own homes in the local community.
