Heart of England Co-operative Society has raised £10,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Catherine with thermo

Catherine Evans, Heart of England Co-op’s community and charity adviser, pictured next to the thermometer which tracks the amount of cash staff have raised for Macmillian Cancer Support.

Macmillan Cancer Support is the society’s chosen charity for 2024/2025 with colleagues arranging a string of events to raise cash.

The biggest money-spinner to date was a raffle involving 37 food stores which made £3,676.

Other activities have included a sponsored walk for staff, friends and relatives between the Society’s Coventry Support Centre in Foleshill and its Coniston Way Co-op store in Nuneaton, as well as a Euros football sweepstake and a car wash.

Several employees also launched their own individual fundraisers to support the cause.

Sarah Stallard, who is based at the Support Centre, took part in the Mighty Hike in the Peak District, while her colleague Barinder Khera ran a half marathon from Kenilworth to Warwick Castle.

Catherine Evans, Heart of England Co-op’s community and charity adviser, said Macmillan’s work has truly resonated with staff: “There is such a lot of love for this charity amongst our colleagues. A form was sent to more than 700 people across our stores and funeral homes and they voted overwhelmingly to support Macmillan over the next two years. We still have the rest of this year to go and all next year too and so we’re hoping to raise a record amount of money.”

The charity thanked the society for it’s “fantastic contribution to date”.