Argos raises £3.2 million for Macmillan nurses

Originally published: 24 May 2018

Leading retailer Argos has raised an incredible £3.2 million in just three years for Macmillan Cancer Support. Customers and colleagues alike dug deep to fund Macmillan nurses who are a lifeline for many people living with cancer.

A Macmillan nurse can be invaluable to someone living with cancer. Helping navigate treatment side effects, being a shoulder to cry on and even sharing practical advice like diet and lifestyle tips, they do everything they can to make cancer that little bit more bearable. This money could pay for 56 Macmillan Nurses for a year and, with the number of people living with cancer in the UK expected to rise to four million by 2030, the funding of Macmillan nurses is now more crucial than ever.

Reflecting on her own Macmillan nurse, Michelle, 39, who is recovering from breast cancer explains:

“Cath was great to have. I was always amazed at how she remembered everyone’s names and everything she knew about them. She made a horrid experience a great one which probably sounds odd but I genuinely looked forward to seeing her when I went for my check-ups. I will always be grateful I had her to turn to. The difference some people make is beyond explanation.”

Voting to make Macmillan their charity partner in 2015, Argos colleagues threw themselves head first into fundraising. Whether it was donning adventurous fancy dress outfits, taking on gruelling challenges like Tough Mudder, or running city marathons there was something for everyone to get involved in. Chief Executive, John Rogers, even swapped his suit for walking boots to complete one of Macmillan’s Mighty Hikes alongside over 400 other Argos employees, walking a marathon last summer — all 26.2 miles.

Argos raised over £50,000 during Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning last September. And, more recently an instore event, the “Mega Macmillan Takeover Week” raised over £105,000.

John Rogers, CEO Sainsbury’s Argos, said:

“This £3.2million donation signifies the generosity, drive and dedication of our Argos colleagues and customers for a charity close to the hearts of so many of us. The stories people have shared with me about how exceptional Macmillan nurses have been in caring either for themselves or their loved ones will always stay with me. It’s fantastic that Argos has been able to make this contribution and help more nurses provide such invaluable support to people living with cancer.”

Natasha Parker, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Macmillan Cancer Support said:

“We would like to extend a huge thank you to Argos colleagues and customers for their kind generosity. It is so motivating to see what can be achieved when everyone gets behind Macmillan, the fantastic amount raised will make a critical difference for people living with cancer and their families through funding of our Macmillan nurses, who work tirelessly to support their patients and ensure that a life with cancer is still a life well lived. We really can’t thank Argos enough.”

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For more information

Frankie Harrington, PR Officer, Macmillan Cancer Support.
Tel: 0207 840 5057

About Macmillan Cancer Support

There are 2.5 million people living with cancer in the UK. One in two people are likely to get cancer in their lifetimes. Cancer can affect everything, including a person’s body, relationships and finances.

Macmillan Cancer Support provides practical, emotional and personal support to people affected by cancer every year. The charity is there to support people during treatment, help with work and money worries, and listen when people need to talk about their feelings.

Macmillan receives no government funding and relies on generous donations from the public. People up and down the country show their support for Macmillan — from hosting or attending a World’s Biggest Coffee Morning to running a marathon or giving up alcohol — so the charity can help more and more people affected by cancer every year.

Life with cancer is still your life and Macmillan is there to help you live it. If you want information or just to chat, call 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am–8pm) or visit www.macmillan.org.uk.

About Sainsbury’s Argos

Sainsbury’s Argos is a leading UK digital retailer and sells more than 60,000 products under the Argos and Habitat brands. It sells through www.argos.co.uk, www.habitat.co.uk, its growing mobile channels, its 800+ stores and over the telephone. Argos Digital Stores and Mini Habitats can also be found in Sainsbury’s supermarkets.

Argos is the UK’s largest high street retailer online and the second most visited website, with nearly a billion website visits a year. More than half of the company’s sales originate online and around 120 million customer transactions take place in its stores each year. Argos offers customers market leading delivery and collection services, including Check & Reserve, Fast Track Delivery and Fast Track Collection which make customers’ lives easier, every day.

Sainsbury’s Argos is part of J Sainsbury plc, a leading retailer of food, clothing and general merchandise and owner of Sainsbury’s Bank. Sainsbury’s commitment to helping customers live well for less has been at the heart of what the company does since 1869. J Sainsbury plc employs 195,000 colleagues across the UK and Ireland whose strong culture and values are integral to driving its success — now and in the future. Our vision is to be the most trusted retailer where people love to work and shop.

Media & PR at Macmillan

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We are the Media and Public Relations team at Macmillan Cancer Support. Get the latest news here: https://medium.com/macmillan-press-releases-and-statements

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