James Hall & Co

James Hall reaches £500,000 milestone for cancer charity

Fundraising initiatives include fancy dress competitions, cake stalls, and raffles.

James Hall & Co, Spar UK’s primary wholesaler and distributor for northern England, has reached the £500,000 fundraising milestone for end of life care charity Marie Curie.

The highest fundraising independent store is Nigel and Sue Masters’ store in Oswaldtwistle, which has raised £5,272 since Spar partnered with Marie Curie in March 2017.

Nigel said: “We have a first-class community Spar store here in Oswaldtwistle and our staff wholeheartedly get behind fundraising opportunities. Local residents and businesses really appreciate this, and I think it is why our customers have supported Marie Curie so generously.”

Company-owned Spar stores that have driven fundraising on the ground in communities include Sandringham Way, Walton-le-Dale (£5,302), Hutton Way, Carlisle (£4,555), East Ayton, Scarborough (£4,195), and Eston, Middlesbrough (£2,780).

Fundraising initiatives varied from fancy dress competitions and cake stalls through to second-hand book, DVD and games sales, and raffles.

Niels Dekkers, Retail Development Director at James Hall & Co, said: “This latest milestone, coming just 12 months after reaching the £400,000 mark, could not have been achieved so quickly without the kind-heartedness of our loyal customers across the north of England, combined with the commitment and inventiveness of stores and their fundraising initiatives.

"I would like to congratulate the team at Masters Oswaldtwistle for their brilliant fundraising work.”

Linda McCarten, Senior Healthcare Assistant at MarieCurie, added: “To have the support of Spar and James Hall & Co really is amazing, and £500,000 is a brilliant total to have reached. This helps fund our critical work. I’m a regular at my local Spar store, and it has supported me through the pandemic too as a collection point for PPE, enabling me to carry on doing the work I love for Marie Curie.”