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The retailer is already halfway towards its fundraising target of £1m thanks to efforts from store staff and customers up and down the UK.
The money raised will help fund the refurbishment of family accommodation, just across the road from the hospital, which will enable parents from across the UK to be by their child’s side.
Fundraising highlights since the partnership launched include 81 McColl’s colleagues and friends from across Scotland coming together to complete two 26-mile walks around Loch Leven and Ayrshire, collectively raising more than £15,000. The charity partnership has also seen world records broken, with a team of eight McColl’s colleagues from Crewe spending 24 hours throwing darts at the double 10 on the darts board, successfully breaking the Guinness World Record for the most double 10s hit in a 24 hour period and raising £11,770 for GOSH Charity in the process.
McColl’s also supported the hospital in the pandemic by providing essential food and drink products to the hospital, free of charge. These included sandwiches, bread, milk, eggs, biscuits, tea and coffee, which meant that hard-working NHS staff could collect much-needed supplies at the start and end of their shift.
Liz Tait, director of fundraising at GOSH Charity, said: “A large part of our partnership has coincided with lockdown, and so we’re incredibly grateful to colleagues at McColl’s up and down the country who continued valiantly and safely with their fundraising efforts to reach this incredible milestone in support of the UK’s most seriously ill children.
“I’d also like to thank the business for stepping up and providing the hospital’s hardworking NHS staff with much-needed essentials to make their days at the height of the pandemic that little bit easier. At a time when Great Ormond Street Hospital needs the charity’s support more than ever before, we are truly excited about what is to come from this fantastic national partnership and the impact that we can create for the hospital’s patients and families.”
Jonathan Miller, chief executive at McColl’s, added: “I am incredibly proud of the efforts of our colleagues, customers and suppliers, continuing to fundraise safely in the knowledge that their efforts will provide vital support for families at a very difficult time. We look forward to continuing to support GOSH Charity as we push towards achieving our £1m fundraising goal.”
