From the 9th to 14th August 2010, the Morrisons supermarket store in Reading held a Charity Week to raise money for Duchess of Kent House Charity (DoKHC). The event was part of a nine month UK-wide campaign by the supermarket to raise £1 million for hospice care.

Through Morrisons charity of the year partnership with Help the Hospices, the leading charity supporting hospice care throughout the UK, every Morrisons store has teamed up with its nearest hospice to raise money that will directly fund hospice services in the local community. 

Morrisons colleagues and customers have already taken hospice fundraising in their stride with stores up and down the country taking part in the ‘go yellow’ campaign which kicked off the new partnership in May.

George Solly, Director of Fundraising at DoKHC said “Last week’s fundraising activities were focused on raising money for the vital care and support our unit provides for friends and family of patients. Supporting carers is a big part of what we do; we fund the Family Support and Bereavement Service; the Befriending Service and Psychologists. The money raised by Morrisons will make a huge difference to the services we provide.”

Mike Palfreman, director of fundraising at Help the Hospices, said: “The partnership has got off to a great start with Morrisons colleagues and customers pulling out all the stops to raise more than £300k in just three months.

“We are well on the way to achieving our target of raising £1 million for hospice care. And we hope through this exciting summer campaign to also raise awareness of the important work our member hospices do to support family and friends of people with life-limiting and terminal illnesses.”

James Morse, Reading store general manager, added: “We’re thrilled at the amount that has been raised so far through the generosity of our customers and colleagues and we’re looking forward to raising a lot more throughout the year.”

Morrisons are also raising money for Help the Hospices through in store promotions, such as through sales of a limited edition Cadbury Dairy Milk Bar of Plenty in Honey Flake and Pecan.

To find out more head down to Morrisons on Rose Kiln Lane, just off Basingstoke Road. For more information about the partnership visit www.helpthehospices.org.uk