BT returns to Charity Shops Challenge in support of Irish Cancer Society

BT staff are taking up the challenge of managing high street shops to raise vital funds for Irish Cancer Society. Families encouraged to visit shops and to check out the wide variety of stock on offer.

BT, Ireland’s leading communications provider, has once again partnered with national cancer charity, the Irish Cancer Society, to run the second all-island ‘Great BT Charity Shops Challenge’ which this year takes place on Thursday 9th October.

160 BT staff have already signed up for the challenge that will see them helping to run 10 Irish Cancer Society shops across Ireland and seven Marie Curie shops in Northern Ireland.  The challenge pits staff teams against one another – each team will work at a shop for a day, and will be tasked with providing and selling as much stock as possible - clothes, household goods and all sorts of bric-a-brac!

The teams will also use their corporate skills to promote their shop, encourage shoppers to visit and ultimately to raise as much money as possible for the Irish Cancer Society.   The teams will be judged on how much they can increase overall sales in the shops and how much stock they gather.

This year’s challenge aims to attract families to the Irish Cancer Society shops. It will encourage them to visit and explore the vast array of stock on display suitable for all the family - from the perfect vintage party look to getting the kids back to school to finishing off the new living room.

Commenting on the challenge, Paul Hughes, Irish Cancer Society Shops Manager and Chair of the Irish Charity Shops Association said: “We’re delighted to once again be working with BT. The Shops Challenge last year was a tremendous success and I have no doubt that the BT teams will go all out to make this year even bigger. We are always looking for ways to raise awareness of our charity shops and to spread the word about the great value and fashion available there.”

“We need more people to shop, donate and volunteer and this initiative by BT will certainly help on all these fronts by helping us raise awareness of what our shops actually offer. By generating much needed stock and equally importantly encouraging people to donate their time. We hope that everyone visits their local shop on takeover day and bags themselves a bargain. Without support of our shops from the community we can’t continue to deliver our nationwide information and support services.”

Sinéad Nic Oireachtaigh, Better Future programme manager for BT, said: “At BT we're committed to using our skills and technology to support good causes. Last year alone BT volunteers, across the island of Ireland, spent 1,860 working days supporting local communities and charities. We’re hugely looking forward to working with the Irish Cancer Society again this year on the Great BT Charity Shops Challenge and hope to build on the success of last year’s all-island event."

Remember our charity shops ~ Volunteer ~ Shop ~ Donate.  Visit www.cancer.ie/shops

The Irish Cancer Society shops participating in the challenge are:
• Bray
• Camden Street
• Capel St
• Clondalkin
• Drogheda
• Dun Laoghaire
• Kimmage
• Phibsborough
• Rathmines
• Waterford