Bag charge provides big boost for charity

CUSTOMERS who have spent 5p on carrier bags from The Co-operative food stores operated by the Warwickshire-based Heart of England Co-operative Society have helped raise £3,850 for cancer patients.

The money — raised in the first six months of the scheme introduced by the government and launched in October 2015 — has been donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.

It is one of a number of charities throughout the society’s trading area of Coventry, Warwickshire, south Leicestershire and Northamptonshire to benefit from £30,000.

On the Herald's patch there are Co-op food stores in Wellesbourne, two in Warwick, Southam and Fenny Compton.

Statistics show that four out of five people are left financially worse off after a diagnosis, so one way that Macmillan supports people is by providing grants to help pay for everyday essentials, from household bills or extra clothing to a food blender for patients finding it difficult to swallow.

Other Macmillan services include its information and support centres across the country, its national helpline, its local welfare rights advisers and its online community.

There are also Macmillan nurses based at hospitals and in the community throughout the UK.

Mandy Spraggett, fundraising manager for Coventry and Warwickshire, said: “We want to make sure no one has to face cancer alone but we can’t do it without the amazing people who fundraise for us, and corporate partners such as the Heart of England Co-operative Society help us raise vital funds.

“The society will have made a difference to so many lives with this fantastic gesture, so we extend our thanks to the society and its customers.”