Staff, customers and members of Scotmid Co-operative have raised an incredible £300,000 to support stroke survivors to rebuild their lives, survive and thrive.
A one year partnership, which was extended due to the Covid pandemic, raised funds for services provided by Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS), Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS) and England’s Different Strokes.
Thanks to Scotmid’s support, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland can provide six months of support for 1,000 stroke survivors in Scotland’s communities, giving them the vital help and support that they need when they need it most.
Staff from Scotmid, Semichem, Scotmid Funerals and Lakes & Dales stores were fundraising superheroes, taking part in daredevil events like the Forth Bridge Abseil, an eight-hour relay challenge and Munro bagging. When the pandemic hit, fundraising efforts switched to everything from head-shaves to virtual marathons.
Scotmid and CHSS also joined forces to support vulnerable people throughout lockdown, with Scotmid staff working together with the charity’s Kindness Volunteers to deliver shopping.
Jane-Claire Judson, Chief Executive at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland said a “massive” thank you to everyone at Scotmid: “Your support, your effort, your commitment and your passion has been above and beyond. You have kept us going through what has been one of the hardest years any of us have ever experienced.”
“The amount of energy that everyone at Scotmid have put into the partnership has been really inspiring to me and everyone here at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland.”
Scotmid set itself the £300,000 target in September 2019.
Its Chief Executive John Brodie commented: “In what has undoubtedly been the most challenging year we have seen in retail and fundraising, I am so proud of what we have achieved. Not only raising a phenomenal £300,000, but also increasing awareness of symptoms and support services within our communities.”
