Lifesaving funding initiative

Sep 20 2007 By The Journal

A CASH and carry has teamed up with one of its suppliers to raise lifesaving funds.

Newcastle’s Makro has teamed up with Procter & Gamble, to support the Meningitis Trust.

It plans to donate a percentage of its profits to the charity, aiming to raise over £100,000.

During September the Newcastle store is running a Multibrand event with Procter & Gamble, providing great offers with a donation of 10p-50p per pack going to the charity.

The store will join a campaign running across Makro’s network of 33 stores in the UK, including a range of products by Proctor & Gamble, such as Fairy, Pringles and Pantene.

The campaign ‘Together We’re Making it Everyone’s Business’ aims to drive awareness of meningitis in the UK and help employers understand the impact it could have on their business, employees and their families.

Kenny Jacobs, Makro’s customer manager, said: “Makro chooses a charity of the year and all our fundraising efforts go towards it.

“The Meningitis Trust is a very worthy cause, providing vital support and information to employers, health professionals and the public.

“Makro prides itself on being a business partner every day for employers and the Meningitis Trust helps employers understand the impact the disease has on their employees.

“We are pleased to be helping raise funds and awareness for the charity, particularly as the Meningitis Trust will shortly be celebrating its 21st anniversary.”

The Meningitis Trust is the UK’s leading meningitis charity, raising awareness of
meningitis and septicaemia through an education and training programme and offering practical support for life to people coping with devastating after-effects.

Chris Boey, corporate manager for the Meningitis Trust, said: “We are delighted to have the support of such a well-known name as Makro. We rely on such partnerships and the generosity of individuals and businesses for the majority of our income.

“This campaign will not only generate vital funds to help us rebuild lives shattered by meningitis across the UK, but it will also raise the profile of meningitis as a cause of real concern to wider audiences – predominantly Makro’s business customers.

“Our Employer’s Information Pack addresses things that Makro’s business customers will need to consider if their employees, or their families contract meningitis. Issues such as time off work, workload re-allocation, customer and supplier relations and training are included, together with details of how the Meningitis Trust can provide vital support.”

In-store communications, including radio adverts, will promote the campaign and encourage Makro’s business customers to download their free Employer’s Information Pack direct from the Meningitis Trust’s website: www.meningitis-trust.org.

Makro’s initiative follows a similar campaign between the METRO Group and Procter & Gamble, which raised vital funds for UNICEF last year.