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EUROSPAR Crossmaglen is preparing to launch a new fundraising event in aid of Cancer Fund for Children. The Big Daisy Day Out will see the store take part alongside more than 90 EUROSPAR and ViVOXTRA stores hosting activities over the weekend of 25 to 27 September.
On Saturday 26 September, staff at the Crossmaglen store will take on a Spin-a-thon on exercise bikes from 10am to 3pm, with music from a local DJ and facepainting available for families. The event is supported by Barista Bar Coffee.
In the lead up to the weekend, shoppers have been collecting a free daisy colouring template in store for children to decorate and return, forming part of a daisy chain to be displayed in stores over the three days.
Cancer Fund for Children fundraises throughout the year, with September's Childhood Cancer Awareness Month offering a focused opportunity to highlight the impact of childhood cancer on young people and families.
Cancer Fund for Children Young Ambassador Lucy (13), from Belfast, has been supported by the charity since her mother Karen was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2023. Before her mother's diagnosis, Lucy's family had already been supporting her older sister Leancha through a diagnosis of ovarian cancer in March 2021. Leancha died in August 2023, and her husband Christopher and daughter Meabh have also been supported by the charity throughout her treatment and following her death.
Lucy said the support helped her family cope during some of the most difficult times in their lives, and inspired her to become a Young Ambassador. "The opportunity I had to meet people through Cancer Fund for Children that understood me, who were going through similar things and to hear their stories, was really helpful for me. So, I became a Young Ambassador because I think it's important to be heard and listened to, and because I'd seen the impact that sharing your story can have, especially for young people to hear from other young people. I want people to know that it's not just the person who has the diagnosis that's impacted, but it impacts the whole family, and Cancer Fund for Children do so much for the whole family.
"I know the impact of it because I've lived it. I love being a Young Ambassador, it's given me so much more confidence, it feels good to be able to share my story, raise awareness and knowing that doing so can have a positive impact. It really means a lot when people support Cancer Fund for Children because when they do, they're supporting families like mine, and they've helped me so much."
Phil Alexander, CEO at Cancer Fund for Children, thanked the EUROSPAR and ViVOXTRA store teams and their shoppers for their ongoing support. "The Community Coffee mornings have gone from strength to strength every year and it's fantastic to see the refresh into the Big Daisy Day Out this year, welcoming shoppers to enjoy a full weekend of exciting activities in their local store. The dedication and passion to fundraising from the stores and shoppers is invaluable to us and to the families we support."
Keavy O'Mahony-Truesdale, Barista Bar's National Brand and Business Development Manager, said the company was proud to support the stores' community coffee mornings year on year. "The store teams always go the extra mile to welcome shoppers and encourage donations. We look forward to seeing what the Big Daisy Day Out brings to local communities this year."
Bethany Priestley of EUROSPAR NI said the partnership had raised £2.2 million for Cancer Fund for Children over 15 years. "This incredible milestone reflects the commitment and dedication of our store teams and generosity of our shoppers. This year, it felt like the right time to refresh our coffee mornings and introduce the Big Daisy Day Out.
"The coffee mornings played a huge role in raising over £2 million for the charity, this refresh will enable creativity for our store teams and shoppers and provide even more of an opportunity for our stores to connect with their local communities. Over the years, this partnership and money raised has allowed Cancer Fund for Children to reach even more young people and their families to support them through diagnosis and beyond. This is such an important weekend, and we look forward to welcoming shoppers to EUROSPAR Crossmaglen to get involved and enjoy the Big Daisy Day Out, while raising money for such a deserving charity."
Details on how stores are getting involved, and how to donate, are available at eurosparni.co.uk.
