The Great BT Charity Shops Challenge… the results are in

BT teams bring in over €128,000 for the Irish Cancer Society and Marie Curie charity shops

BT employees from across Ireland joined representatives from the Irish Cancer Society and Marie Curie today at the Clyde Court Hotel, Dublin, to announce the results of the 2014 Great BT Charity Shops Challenge.

On 9th October 168 BT employees stepped out of their day jobs to volunteer in the   all-island ‘Great BT Charity Shops Challenge’. On the day, each BT team ‘took over’ one of 17 charity shops (10 Irish Cancer Society shops in the Republic of Ireland and seven Marie Curie shops in Northern Ireland) to help raise much-needed funds for both charities. 

The BT teams competed fiercely against each other, using all of their planning, marketing and selling skills to generate extra stock, raise the profile of the shops locally, attract more volunteers and customers and increase shop takings on the day.

And the results are in…

The overall winners reporting a 1,580 per cent increase in sales on the day are the team from the Marie Curie Shop on the Cregagh Road in Belfast. In the Republic of Ireland, the biggest increase in sales was in the Irish Cancer Society shop in Bray, Co. Wicklow.

This year’s campaign had even greater success than last year when a total of €100,000 was raised, between sales on the day and stock donated for the charities.

Paul Hughes, Irish Cancer Society Shops Manager said:

We were delighted not only by the amazing amount of money raised by BT staff during the Great BT Shops Challenge, but by the attention it has provided our shops -  more people know about our shops and the great bargains we have in-store, in addition they got great quality donations.

In the 10 participating Irish Cancer Society shops over €80,000 has been raised, between sales on the day and 2,363 bags of stock donated for our shops. These amazing results will be channelled into our information, care and support services for those affected by cancer in Ireland. In total this means that the Great BT Charity Shops Challenge could fund the total cost of almost 230 nights of care for those in their final days, staying at home being cared for by an Irish Cancer Society night nurse.”

Sinéad nic Oireachtaigh, BT’s Better Future programme manager said:

BT has always worked hard to improve the lives of the communities in which we operate and, as part of our ‘Better Future’ corporate responsibility programme, our volunteers get involved with some brilliant community initiatives. We were particularly excited to support the Irish Cancer Society and Marie Curie again this year, and our teams have done us proud. The energy, enthusiasm and creativity of the teams has been amazing and we’re delighted to have raised such a significant amount for two very important charities. Thanks go to all the customers who came out to support the Bray, Camden Street, Capel Street, Clondalkin, Drogheda,  Dun Laoghaire, Kimmage, Phibsborough, Rathmines and Waterford shops to help raise such a significant amount for two very important charities.”