Aldi customers and staff raise £1,400 to support young people facing cancer

Rochdale Aldi fundraising team

Generous customers and staff at Aldi in Rochdale have pulled together to raise £1,400 for Teenage Cancer Trust, helping the retailer to hit its £2m milestone this month.

Employees at the Edinburgh Way store supported the charity push over the last six months by holding a ‘Brave the Shave’ in store, with Store Assistant Angela Nuttall shaving her hair off for charity.

After beginning the partnership to raise £5m in January 2017 and reaching £1m at the turn of the year, the Rochdale team’s fundraising efforts have helped Aldi to hit the £2m national fundraising milestone much earlier than expected.

Aldi’s support has enabled the charity to protect and grow the services it delivers for young people with cancer. This includes helping to fund two nursing posts, two youth support coordinator posts and a multi-disciplinary coordinator post in the region.

Lucie Hashdi, area manager at Aldi UK, said: “We’re proud to be part of the communities we serve. Our customers and colleagues are coming together to smash our fundraising targets one by one, and we’re so grateful for their support.

“We plan to make the most of the longer days throughout the summer with many more fundraising events planned as we edge closer to our £5 million target.”

This money raised by Aldi’s 775 local stores has helped to ensure there are teenage cancer specialists in all local communities across the UK, and is playing a vital role in protecting and growing the services Teenage Cancer Trust provides.

Kate Collins, chief executive of Teenage Cancer Trust said:  "We're incredibly grateful for the passionate and enthusiastic support that Aldi's team and customers are giving to young people with cancer.  Hitting the second million just four months after achieving the first is amazing and every pound raised makes the vital work of Teenage Cancer Trust possible. 

"Right now, for every young person Teenage Cancer Trust reach, there’s another we can't. This money will help us provide young people with cancer the best treatment, care and support – and ultimately ensure that no young person faces cancer alone.”

Teenage Cancer Trust delivers world-class cancer care and support to young people diagnosed with cancer aged 13 to 24. It works in partnership with the NHS to provide highly-trained expert staff and specialist cancer units in NHS hospitals across the UK. The charity is there at every stage from diagnosis, through treatment and after treatment. It also brings young people with cancer together so they can support each other.