Spars supplied by James Hall give more than £500,000 to cancer charity

To mark the achievement, the highest fundraising stores from each part of the north of England have been recognised.

The highest fundraising independent store is Nigel and Sue Masters’ Spar store in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, which has raised £5,271.75 since Spar partnered with Marie Curie in March 2017.

Nigel Masters said: “I’m surprised and very happy to be the leading Spar independent retailer in the north of England for Marie Curie fundraising, and it’s a terrific feeling to have contributed so much to the £500,000 milestone achieved by James Hall & Co.

“I know from personal experience just how valued, skilled and compassionate end-of-life care is by families for their loved ones, and Marie Curie is a wonderful cause.

“We have a first-class community Spar store here in Oswaldtwistle and our staff wholeheartedly get behind fundraising opportunities. Local residents and businesses really appreciate this and I think it is why our customers have supported Marie Curie so generously.”

Leading company-owned Spar stores that have driven fundraising include Sandringham Way, Walton-le-Dale, Lancashire (£5,302.05); Hutton Way, Carlisle, Cumbria (£4,555.45); East Ayton, Scarborough, North Yorkshire (£4,194.74); and Eston, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire (£2,779.70).

Fundraising initiatives have varied from fancy dress competitions and cake stalls through to second-hand book, DVD and games tables and raffles.

James Hall also donates a penny to Marie Curie from the sale of every Spar sandwich sold in one of the 600 stores it services in northern England, and has helped distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline Marie Curie nurses throughout the pandemic.

Linda McCarten, senior healthcare assistant at Marie Curie, said: “To have the support of Spar and James Hall really is amazing, and £500,000 is a brilliant total to have reached.

“This helps fund our critical work. I’m a regular at my local Spar store, and it has supported me through the pandemic too as a collection point for PPE, enabling me to carry on doing the work I love for Marie Curie.”

The latest financial milestone comes just 12 months after the Spar stores supplied by James Hall reached the £400,000 point.