Due to phenomenal success the great BT Charity Shop Challenge returns for a third year in support of the Irish Cancer Society

BT staff are taking up the challenge of managing charity shops for a day to raise vital funds for the Irish Cancer Society

BT, Ireland’s leading communications provider, has once again partnered with  national cancer charity, the Irish Cancer Society, to organise the third all-island ‘Great BT Charity Shops Challenge’ which this year takes place on Thursday 8th October.

160 BT staff have already signed up for the challenge that will see them helping to run six Irish Cancer Society shops across Ireland and ten 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 as much stock as possible (including designer accessories, boots clothes, household goods and all sorts of bric-a-brac!) to sell on the day.

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 Society helps the thousands of people diagnosed with cancer each year, and their families, to come to terms with their diagnosis and provide the care, information and support they need. 

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 looking to get all the essentials for Autumn/Winter – from a new coat, to boots or a bag - into 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 scarf to a new dress to getting ready for Christmas.

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 more successful. 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 refreshes their wardrobe for Autumn/Winter. Without support of our shops from the community we can’t continue to deliver our nationwide information and support services.”

Shay Walsh, Managing Director of Business, BT Ireland said: 
“I’m very proud of all of our people who have taken the time out from their day job to once again support two such worthy causes and in such a unique and practical way. BT is committed to using our skills and technology to help others and last year alone our BT volunteers across the island of Ireland spent 1,300 working days supporting local communities and charities.

We’re looking forward to working with the Irish Cancer Society again this year and building on the success of last year’s challenge and I would encourage everyone to keep the date in the diary to come along and show your support.”  

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