Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research

2009 update - Wickes have hit the magic million!

Over £100,000 was raised at the Wickes Annual Supplier Charity Dinner in November 2009, which pushed our Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research partnership fundraising total over the 'magic million' mark!

Jeremy Bird, Managing Director of Wickes, said: "To get to the £1 million mark is fantastic, especially as it's our first ever charity partnership - it's a real testament to the generosity of our colleagues, customers and suppliers."

This is a remarkable milestone for Wickes, and everyone involved is very proud of what has been achieved. From the moment we formed our partnership with Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research in October 2007, the commitment and support for the charity from our staff has been tireless. Every month without fail, they manage to raise significant sums of money which has helped us to reach our incredible £1,000,000 total.

Wickes colleagues in all 197 stores across the country have added to the total generously donated by customers by getting involved in fundraising. Store events have included family fun days, fancy dress days, head-shaves and BBQs. Individual colleagues have thrown themselves into sponsored skydives, marathons and triathlons, and in October 2009 a team from Wickes succeeded in trekking up the longest, toughest route to the top of Kilimanjaro which everyone involved agreed was the most difficult thing they've ever done!

The money raised by Wickes has funded vital research into blood cancers and will help make a real difference to the lives of people touched by leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Everyone at Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research is delighted with the news of our £1 million achievement, and we look forward to continuing our relationship in 2010 - their 50th anniversary celebration year. We will keep you updated with everything the Wickes team do to raise even more money in the coming year for this brilliant charity.

For further information please contact Henry Winter at Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research press office on 020 7269 9019, 07824 375880 or hwinter@lrf.org.uk

About Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research

Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research is the only national charity devoted exclusively to improving treatments, finding cures and learning how to prevent leukaemia, Hodgkin's and other lymphomas, myeloma and the other related blood disorders, diagnosed in 24,500 people in the UK every year. Further information, including patient information booklets, is available from www.lrf.org.uk or call 020 7405 0101.

Over the next five years, Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research urgently needs to raise over £100 million to commit to new research across the UK. From basic laboratory research to clinical trials with patients, Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research is committed to saving lives by funding high quality, carefully selected research throughout the UK.

About Wickes

Wickes currently has 196 stores nation wide, and is an established brand within the UK DIY Market. Wickes stores are designed to appeal to serious DIY customers who carry out more complex projects, tradesmen who undertake general repairs, maintenance/improvement projects for households and customers looking for a design service for kitchens and bathrooms.

Registered charity 216032 (England & Wales) SC037529 (Scotland)