Tesco raises £7.5m for Alzheimer's

Friday 27th April 2012

Millions of pounds has been raised by Tesco staff and customers to support people living with dementia across the UK.

The supermarket giant raised £7.5 million during its Tesco's Charity of the Year partnership with Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer Scotland smashing its original £5 million target.

During the initiative, which ran from March 1 2011 to February 29 2012, staff and shoppers undertook 4,157 fundraising events to help support the charity's services.

Around 550 staff faced their fears in extreme events, with 157 taking part in sky dives and 24 climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

Their achievements were recognised at the Tesco Charity of The Year staff fundraising awards ceremony at the Dominion Theatre in London on April 25.

Ruth Girardet, corporate responsibility and community director for the Hertfordshire-based supermarket chain, said: "Tesco staff and customers have been immensely generous with their time and money, raising over £7.5 million, making this our most successful charity partnership so far. All their hard work has paid off so we can make an even bigger difference than anyone imagined in the fight against dementia."

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the great response we've had from Tesco staff, showing their support for the cause by smashing the fundraising target so we really can make huge strides in the fight against dementia."

The money raised has funded 25 new dementia supporter workers helping 100,000 more people with the disease and their carers.

It has also supported the launch of the first educational Dementia Community Roadshow, increased capacity at the National Dementia Helpline and funded two research fellowships.

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