Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer, has made a donation of £110,000 for funds raised in the last year, to its National Charity Partner, Teenage Cancer Trust, taking its total raised over nearly a decade to £1.39m.
Colleagues across all Dobbies stores have supported a whole host of fundraising initiatives including in-store donations, text to donate, Christmas shopping nights, social media takeovers, team challenges and carrier bag donations. Since last year, customers were given the opportunity to add a donation when booking seasonal events.
Dobbies stores in Edinburgh, Milngavie, Southport, Livingston and Dunfermline have raised the most, with an impressive £259,000 between them in the last nine years.
Some colleagues have even taken on their own personal challenges to raise funds. Julie Porter, aged 61, has worked at Dobbies Ashford store since the store opened 13 years ago and last year shaved her hair, raising £2,000.
Julie said: “I have personal attachment in my family to cancer and so supporting our Teenage Cancer Trust has always been really important to me. I decided to shave my hair, because I wanted to make a big statement and raise vital funds. After all, it’s only hair that would grow back! I really enjoyed the day, we had buckets at the entrance and my hairdresser came to the store to do it.”
Mags Ferguson, aged 57, has worked at Dobbies for six-and-a-half-years and is based at their Braehead store. She took on a step challenge with her dog Dexter.
Mags said: “I took on the challenge to support people less fortunate than myself and to help the Dobbies team. I love doing things like this, especially when I can take my little dog Dexter with me. It’s such a good feeling when you complete a challenge too!”
Cancer kills more teenagers and young adults in the UK than any other disease. Every day, seven young people aged 13-24 hear the words “young have cancer”. They will each need specialist nursing cancer and support to get them through it. Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to meeting this vital need – so no young person faces cancer alone.
The charity receives no government funding and donations from Dobbies will help to fund specialist nurses, youth support coordinators, and ensure that support is in place for teenagers and young adults, when cancer has turned their world upside down.
Donna Bednarek, senior relationship manager from Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “It is phenomenal that Dobbies colleagues and customers have raised more than £1.3 million for Teenage Cancer Trust. We started our partnership with Dobbies in 2015 and these vital funds help us to make sure that young people with cancer across the country have the best possible care and support that they need and deserve.
“This incredible fundraising will help us to provide unique, tailored support that lets young people hold on to their identity, their independence and their dreams – so cancer doesn’t rob them of the best years of their life. Thank you to Dobbies for your loyal support – you are helping to make our work possible across the UK.”
Nick Anderson, Dobbies operations director, said: “It is fantastic to see colleagues across the business supporting fundraising efforts for Teenage Cancer Trust and I’m incredibly proud of the funds we have raised to-date. The Teenage Cancer Trust team does amazing work to support individuals and families when they need it most and this milestone is a huge testament to our colleagues who are so committed to helping them on their mission.”
