Staff at Genesis Crafty bakery in Magherafelt to take over Action Cancer shop

Staff from Genesis Crafty bakery in Magherafelt are among those taking part it in the Cares Shops’ Challenge partnership with Action Cancer, which to date has raised £160,000 for the charity’s cancer protection, detection and support services.

The volunteers from the various businesses will be using their entrepreneurial skills, business acumen and years of collective experience to increase donations, footfall and sales at the various shops on the day of the challenge.

The companies have already begun their fundraising and are preparing for takeover day. The competing businesses taking part this year are; Bangor Academy, Boots, BT, Cornmarket Insurance, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Fujitsu, Funeral Services NI, Genesis Crafty, GE Global, Marks and Spencer, MJM, Northern Ireland Housing Executive and People 1st.

Peter Lynch, Action Cancer’s Retail Operations Manager commented; “The Cares Shops’ Challenge provides a unique opportunity for Action Cancer Retail to benefit from an ‘Apprentice Style’ challenge. Every penny raised during the challenge stays within Northern Ireland to provide free services to local people including; breast screening to women aged 40-49 and 70 plus & complementary therapies and counselling to anyone impacted by cancer.”

On Friday 9th October, the teams will present their activities to three judges; Gareth Kirk (Action Cancer CE), Inez Fowler (Action Cancer Ambassador) and Elaine Birchall (SHS Group CE) as part of the Boardroom Showdown at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Belfast. All-Tex Recyclers has generously provided £10,000 in sponsorship for the event.

Hilary Hanberry, Volunteering Manager at Business in the Community added, “This challenge just gets better year on year. The companies that get involved are committed to doing business responsibly. This employer supported volunteering challenge offers multiple benefits – enabling employees to take on and project manage the challenge, use their skills and wits to fundraise, get creative in organising and promoting ‘their’ shop.