The Great BT Charity Shops Challenge… the results are in

BT volunteers raise over £102,000 for Marie Curie and the Irish Cancer Society

BT employees from across the island of Ireland joined representatives from Marie Curie and the Irish Cancer Society 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 the 17 charity shops involved (seven Marie Curie shops in Northern Ireland and 10 Irish Cancer Society shops in the Republic of 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.

Each shop came up with its own theme; Botanic went for Spooktactular, Belmont opted for Christmas Comes Early and the Cregagh Road shop simply recruited the local Fire Brigade to liven things up!

The Dunmurry team convinced Batman to pop in and help sell some signed sporting memorabilia from star names including Holywood golfer and four time major winner Rory McIlroy and former Manchester United star David Beckham.

And not wanting to be outdone the Banbridge store arranged a special visit from Mickey and Minnie Mouse.  

And the results are in…

The overall winners reporting a massive 1,580 per cent increase in sales on the day were the team from the Marie Curie Shop on the Cregagh Road Belfast.

 Clayre Sloan, Area Manager Marie Curie’s Shops, Northern Ireland said:

“All the BT teams were amazing throughout the challenge. Their enthusiasm and passion helped to create a great buzz in all of the shops, encouraging people to pop in and have a browse.

The money raised is simply fantastic and will allow Marie Curie to continue to provide its specialist palliative nursing service in local communities as well as in its Belfast Hospice facility.  The BT Shops Challenge has also helped to generate great awareness of the shops locally which in turn has led to a massive increase in stock donations.  On behalf of everyone at Marie Curie I’d like to thank BT for its support.”

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. Thanks go to all the customers who came out to support the shops to help raise such a significant amount for two very important charities.”

Remember our charity shops ~ Volunteer ~ Shop ~ Donate.  Visit us at http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/en-GB/fundraising-volunteering/Marie-Curie-Shops/