Press release -

Scotmid Co-operative and Prostate Cancer UK smash £150k fundraising target within six months

Record fundraising feat coincides with launch of new Men United v Prostate Cancer campaign

Scotmid Co-operative and Prostate Cancer UK have announced that they have achieved their £150,000 fundraising target just six months into their charity partnership year.

News of the record breaking fundraising feat coincides with the launch of Prostate Cancer UK’s new campaign ‘Men United v Prostate Cancer,’ which uses the language of sport to engage men in the fight against the disease. Scotmid Co-operative has signed up as one of the first and most high profile supporters of the campaign.

Staff, members and customers across the Scotmid Co-operative’s 350 outlets – which includes Scotmid, Semichem, Lakes and Dales Co-operative, funeral branches and post offices – are now gearing up to raise as much as possible for Prostate Cancer UK during the remainder of the partnership.

Teams have already taken part in a number of inspiring fundraising challenges including zipsliding across the River Clyde and cycling from Glasgow to Edinburgh, amongst other fitness challenges. Furthermore Karen Grant - Branch Supervisor at Scotmid’s Bishopmills store in Elgin - shaved her head in support of the partnership in October, while over 70 staff grew moustaches as part of the Movember campaign, which provides funds to Prostate Cancer UK. Scotmid has also held a national talent contest for staff, raising nearly £40,000.

£150,000 is the most Scotmid has ever raised for a charity of the year six months into a partnership, and will be used by Prostate Cancer UK to help raise awareness of the disease in communities throughout Scotland.

Fiona Dunlop, Fundraising Manager for Scotland at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We have been absolutely blown away by the enthusiasm and generosity of staff, members and customers of our amazing charity partner, Scotmid Co-operative. To have achieved our initial annual fundraising target within six months is just incredible. Our Men United campaign is a rallying call for people to come together to beat the common enemy of prostate cancer. With partners like Scotmid on board, we know this is a battle we can and will win.”

Malcolm Brown, Head of Corporate Communications for Scotmid Co-operative said: “We are amazed and very proud to have already achieved our fundraising target for our charity of the year, Prostate Cancer UK. This achievement is testament to the important work that Prostate Cancer UK do to help more men survive prostate cancer and we are so pleased at how our staff, customers and members have shown their support so far. For the news to come on the same day that we have pledged our support for Prostate Cancer UK’s Men United campaign has been an added bonus. We are now hoping to raise over £200,000 during the rest of our charity year.”

Men United v Prostate Cancer is an integrated television, print and digital media campaign, which is running until the end of March. Men - and women - are encouraged to go online to search ‘Men United’ and to get involved by testing their knowledge of the disease with a simple quiz, and signing for the team. They can also pledge their allegiance by proudly wearing the charity’s ‘Man of Men’ pin badge. To sign for Men United visit: www.prostatecanceruk.org/menunited

-Ends-

Topics

  • Health Organisations

Categories

  • scotland
  • movember
  • scotmid co-operative
  • men united

Notes to Editors:.

Men United – The Facts:

  • Men United v Prostate Cancer is Prostate Cancer UK’s call for men to join together in a movement against the common enemy of prostate cancer. The aim is to build a united front of men against this disease. We want to get the message out about one of the UK’s biggest man killers, support men affected by it, and intensify the search for more reliable tests and treatments for the future.
  • Men, and women, are being asked to sign for Men United by visiting www.prostatecanceruk.org/menunited where they can also test their health knowledge by taking a quick quiz.
  • The core audience is men over 45 who urgently need to know about this disease, and to do something about it. Men United is not exclusively for men. This is a movement for men, but women will be critical supporters and activists within it. The core idea is that men are very consciously facing their health and banding together to right a wrong.
  • Whether they’ve been diagnosed or are simply concerned about prostate cancer, men can find out about the disease at www.prostatecanceruk.org.
    • About Prostate Cancer UK:
  • Prostate Cancer UK fights to help more men survive prostate cancer and enjoy a better quality of life. We support men and provide vital information. We find answers by funding research into causes and treatments. And we lead change, raising the profile of the disease and improving care. We believe that men deserve better.
  • Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK. Over 40,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. Every hour 1 man dies from prostate cancer. One in eight men will develop prostate cancer at some point in their lives. One in four Black men will develop prostate cancer at some point in their lives.
  • Anyone with concerns about prostate cancer can call Prostate Cancer UK's confidential Helpline on 0800 074 8383 or visit www.prostatecanceruk.org. The helpline is free to landlines, staffed by specialist nurses, and open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday with late opening until 8pm on Wednesdays.
    • About Scotmid Co-operative

    Scotmid Co-operative is Scotland’s largest independent co-operative society and has been at the heart of local communities since 1859. The Society employs nearly 5000 staff in 350 retail and service outlets across Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England. This includes Scotmid Food, Semichem, Lakes and Dales Co-operative, funeral branches, post offices and a property division. The Society is owned, managed and governed in Scotland and as a co-operative is democratically controlled by its members.