Families coping with life-limiting conditions across the UK will have a new place to go for much-needed support and advice in 2015 after Morrisons customers and colleagues raised more than £1m for Sue Ryder in just nine months.
The supermarket’s partnership with the health and social care charity is funding a new online community, as well as helping to grow and develop Sue Ryder’s community services and family support teams. The online community is a first for Sue Ryder and will allow people with end of life care needs to ask for advice, share their experiences and access a wide range of information 24 hours a day, ensuring they never feel completely alone.
Since the Morrisons Raise a Smile partnership with Sue Ryder launched in February, colleagues and customers have been involved in a wide range of fundraisers, including a nationwide Britain’s Got Talent celebration and a National Collection Day involving Sue Ryder staff, supporters and volunteers. Charity scratchcards supplied by Rieves Lotteries are also going to be sold in 500 stores with the hope of raising £1m for Sue Ryder during the three year partnership.
Martyn Jones, Group Corporate Services Director at Morrisons, said: “Raising over £1m in just nine months is a fantastic achievement and we're overwhelmed by how our colleagues and customers have got behind our partnership with Sue Ryder so far.
"The new community services, family support teams and online community that we are funding through our partnership with Sue Ryder will ensure that families with loved ones at the end of their lives receive support when they need it the most.
“We are incredibly proud to be involved in a partnership that will make such a lasting difference to thousands of families across the UK.”
Sue Ryder's chief executive Heidi Travis said: “We’re overwhelmed by the incredible sum of money that Morrisons customers and colleagues have raised for Sue Ryder in such a short space of time and we’re delighted to be able to use these funds to develop our online community, family support teams and community services.
“Our community services will give our patients more choice and control over their care at the end of their lives, while our family support teams will ensure people receive the support they need when a loved one is dying. Our online community will give people quick and easy access to information and support, wherever they may be.
“The money raised through our Morrisons partnership will make a lasting difference to thousands of families at the most difficult time of their lives and I’d like to thank Morrisons colleagues and customers for the incredible support they have given us so far.”
For more information about Sue Ryder’s partnership with Morrisons, call our dedicated partnership hotline on 0800 949 6000 or email morrisons@sueryder.org. Alternatively, show your support today by texting ‘SMILE’ to 70123 to donate £3. You’ll be helping people at the end of their lives, and supporting their families.
For more information about Sue Ryder visit www.sueryder.org
Published 31/10/2014