ProstateCancerUK-Scotmid (2)

Prostate Cancer UK chosen as Scotmid Co-operative’s new charity partner

Prostate Cancer UK is to receive a welcome boost after being chosen as the new charity partner for Scotmid Co-operative. The independent co-operative Society, which includes Scotmid stores, Semichem stores, The Fragrance House stores, funeral branches and post offices, has set a fundraising target of £150,000 over the next year.

Staff are now planning a number of exciting fundraising activities to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK, with many male team members getting ready for Movember and others planning sponsored zip slides, abseils, marathons and cycles. All of Scotmid’s stores will have Prostate Cancer UK pin badges available for a suggested donation of £1. A key part of the charity partnership will also be about raising awareness of prostate cancer among staff members.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK and every hour one man dies of the disease. Prostate Cancer UK fights to help more men survive prostate cancer and enjoy a better quality of life, providing support, raising awareness and funding research into prostate cancer.

Malcolm Brown, Head of Corporate Communications for Scotmid said: “We are really excited about our new charity partnership with Prostate Cancer UK and our team is already full of ideas for raising as much money as possible. Prostate cancer is a cause that is very close to the hearts of many of our staff, customers and members and we are delighted that we can help.”

Fiona Dunlop, Fundraising Manager at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen as Scotmid Co-operative’s new charity partner. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and is predicted to be the most common cancer overall by 2030. We desperately need to raise funds and awareness to beat this terrible disease. Having the backing of Scotmid Co-operative’s staff and customers is an enormous boost as we fight to do exactly that.”

The new partnership with Prostate Cancer UK comes after Scotmid announced that it had raised a record amount of £267,000 for its 2012/2013 charity partner, Maggie’s. The Society’s charity partnership scheme, which began in 2001, has raised more than £1 million for charities since its initiation, including for The Princes Trust, RNLI and Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Image attached: Prostate Cancer UK volunteers David Sinton (front left) and Iain Robb (front far right) celebrate the start of their partnership with the Scotmid Co-operative team.

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.

Anyone concerned about prostate cancer can call Prostate Cancer UK’s confidential Helpline on 0800 074 8383 or visit http://www.prostatecanceruk.org. The helpline is staffed by specialist nurses and open from 9am to 5pm on Monday to Friday and from 7 – 9pm on Wednesdays.

• 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 one man dies from prostate cancer.
• African Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men of the same age.

Submitted by Alistair Haw

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