Superdrug and sister company Savers are celebrating 11 years of partnership with Marie Curie this year. To say thank you to those involved in donation efforts and raise even more funds for the charity, Superdrug hosted a celebrity filled ball this weekend.
The Superdrug SuperCruise Charity Ball raised enough money to take the partnership fundraising total to an incredible £13 million raised for the end of life charity, which provides critical expert care to people at the end of life and loved ones when they need it most.
Famous faces such as Vogue Williams – who hosted the evening, Tom Read Wilson, Ria Hebden and Mollie Pearce, attended the cruise ship themed celebration hosted by Superdrug at Old Billingsgate. The incredible milestone amount of £13 million was reached on the night through a silent auction, a nail-biting live auction, raffles and games. The evening also took attendees on a cruise through the decades, in a nod to Superdrug’s big anniversary this year as it celebrates 60 fantastic years on the high-street.
Commenting on the evening, media personality and party host, Vogue Williams shared: “I’m absolutely thrilled to host Superdrug’s SuperCruise Charity Ball in aid of Marie Curie. The work Marie Curie do is vital – they provide hands-on care and emotional support day and night for more than 44,000 people living with a terminal illness, and their families, each year. I’m so delighted we hit the £13m target tonight and we had so much fun doing it. I’m so impressed by the dedication of the Superdrug and Savers staff and the absolute passion they show towards the Marie Curie charity partnership. What an evening!”
The collaboration between Marie Curie, Superdrug and Savers celebrates 11 years of fundraising, through a variety of means from limited edition product launches providing donations, to fundraisers in stores and offices, individual challenges and in store customer donations.
In April 2024, Superdrug launched a new ‘Purchase for Nurses’ campaign with BBC Traitors star Mollie Pearce to raise awareness in young people, on the importance of end-of-life care. Proceeds from the sale of selected products were donated to the charity, raising over £200,000 which translates to an incredible 8,700 hours of nursing care.
Superdrug has recently partnered with fintech charity, Pennies, to introduce a new initiative where shoppers are invited to add a 20p donation to Marie Curie at checkout when paying for their health and beauty essentials.
Left to right: Marie Curie CEO, Matthew Reed being presented with a £13 million cheque from Superdrug CCO, Simon Comins.
Speaking on the partnership with Marie Curie, CEO of Superdrug Peter Macnab, said: “We are so proud of the work we do to help support Marie Curie and to ensure that the hospices, nurses and support teams can provide the help that those in need require when it matters most. Over the past 11 years, our teams across Superdrug and Savers have done an incredible job to fundraise through individual challenges, themed fundraising weekends, raffles, bake sales and everything in between. The passion and commitment to supporting Marie Curie has been unwavering. I’d like to thank our teams, the individuals that support them and our customers for helping us to reach the incredible £13 million milestone.”
Currently, 1 in 4 dying people are not getting the care and support they need at the end of their lives. Funds raised help ensure Marie Curie can provide expert care and support for people at the end of life, at home, in a hospice or over the phone, ensuring they are free from unnecessary pain, and have the dignity and respect they deserve, whatever their illness. . The £13 million donated through Superdrug and Savers has funded over 565,000 hours of Marie Curie care so far.
Superdrug and Savers have pledged to continue the partnership, with further charitable efforts planned throughout 2025.
Further speaking on the fundraising efforts, Marie Curie Chief Executive Officer Matthew Reed, added: “Marie Curie has had the privilege of being in partnership with Superdrug for 11 years and during this time we have witnessed the extraordinary support of colleagues and customers. We are delighted that after the success of Superdrug’s Charity Ball we have reached a monumental moment, hitting the incredible milestone of £13 million raised for Marie Curie since 2013, enough to fund over half a million Marie Curie nursing hours. We’re so grateful that Superdrug believe in our shared mission to make sure everyone gets the right care, right to the end.”
