Two years ago, Aldi set out on an ambitious, worthwhile goal: Raise £5million in five years for the charity Teenage Cancer Trust.
The UK’s fifth-largest supermarket chain is already more than halfway there.
On Monday, Aldi said it has raised £3million — a number that has meant an additional 30 nursing roles, 15 youth support officers and four regional co-ordinators for the charity.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the passionate and enthusiastic support that Aldi’s team and customers are giving to young people with cancer,” says Kate Collins, chief executive of Teenage Cancer Trust. “Reaching £3 million in two years is an amazing achievement. Every pound raised has been vital in allowing us to protect and grow our specialist service to ensure young people get access to the very best treatment, care and support possible and are treated as young people first, cancer patient second.”
The stories of help and impact the supermarket has on young people afflicted by cancer are pouring in.
At 21, a young man named Luke was diagnosed with a germ cell tumour and was supported by Teenage Cancer Trust.
“The moment I was diagnosed with cancer was the first time I’d ever been scared in my life,” he said. “I want to say a huge thank you to Aldi for the money they’ve raised for this incredible charity — I couldn’t imagine going through everything I did without Teenage Cancer Trust, and I don’t want anyone else to have to either. They helped save my life, and I can’t speak highly enough of them and the specialised care they offer to young people with cancer like me.”
Most of the money raised by Aldi was achieved through local initiatives created by employees at the supermarket’s more than 825 stores. They include:
- Colleagues running the Virgin Money London Marathon and completing a 7,000-mile bike ride.
- Donations from the sale of products, including Christmas cards and Aldi’s popular Kevin the Carrot soft toys, contributed nearly £300,000 of the £3million total.
- Nearly a third of Aldi’s employees signing up to donate a small amount from their monthly wage to Teenage Cancer Trust. This has so far generated more than £30,000.
“I’m extremely proud of the thousands of Aldi employees who have gone the extra mile – some quite literally – to raise money in support of Teenage Cancer Trust’s important cause,” says Fritz Walleczek, managing director of corporate responsibility at Aldi UK.
Aldi and the Teenage Cancer Trust is intent on meeting, and potentially exceeding, that ultimate goal.
“We’re really looking forward to hitting future milestones together and reaching more young people than ever before,” says Collins.
