Homesbase store hits fundraising heights

Chris Willmott

17 October. Updated: 19 October 15:36

A HOMEBASE store in Solihull has been named the top fundraising store across all Homebase stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland, raising £12,516.90 in just one year for its official charity partner Teenage Cancer Trust.
Terry Duddy, Chief Executive of Home Retail Group which owns Homebase and Argos, has also announced that the UK's leading home and general merchandise retailer has helped to lift community spirit further by raising collectively an impressive £2 million in a single year for Teenage Cancer Trust.
The Homebase store in Sears Retail Park, Oakenshaw Road, Solihull has along with other Homebase and Argos stores and its customers been raising money to support young people with cancer across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
The money is helping Teenage Cancer Trust fund, build and maintain specialist units within hospitals that are designed to feel like a home-from-home and give young people the very best chance of a positive outcome.
The £2 million raised, which includes over £140,000 (165,000 Euros) raised in the Republic of Ireland, is a significant contribution for Teenage Cancer Trust, due to the state-of-the-art units costing between £500,000 and £2.5 million to build.
Over the course of the last year Argos and Homebase’s fundraising has provided significant contributions towards the build and maintenance of Teenage Cancer Trust units across the UK. These include:

· Birmingham: Queen Elizabeth Hospital Young Persons Unit

· Birmingham: Royal Orthopaedic Hospital

· Edinburgh: Royal Hospital for Sick Children

· Glasgow: Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre

· Glasgow: Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Yorkhill)

· Hull: Castle Hill Hospital

· Leeds: Leeds General Infirmary

· Sheffield: Weston Park and Royal Hallamshire Hospitals

· Surrey: The Royal Marsden Hospital, Surrey

· The Wirral: Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology

The combined total of beds in these units is 75, meaning more young people with cancer can access the specialist care and support that Teenage Cancer Trust provides.
Clare, 15, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma at 14.
She said: “The Teenage Cancer Trust units are absolutely amazing and make such a difference to how you are feeling while you are in hospital. They are well thought out and perfect for teenagers, just like me. When I wanted to be around others I could hang out in the social area but I also had my own space too when I needed it. Being treated on a Teenage Cancer Trust unit made a huge difference to my experience. A huge thanks to Argos and Homebase for their amazing work!”
Last year, colleagues at Argos and Homebase voted overwhelmingly for Teenage Cancer Trust to become its two year charity partner.
The partnership has already raised more than the previous charity partner and such is Argos and Homebase’s commitment to local communities that it has recently extended the partnership until February 2013.
Mr Duddy said: “During tough economic times it is more important than ever to support non-profit organisations that make a difference in the communities we live and work in.
"Teenage Cancer Trust is a special organisation that has impacted on our colleagues and customers like no other charity we have supported before.
"We share a common goal. Both organisations are dedicated to improve interior spaces and make them feel like home.
"This is why we are proud to have raised £2 million and contributed towards specialist cancer units for young people in the UK.”
For further information about the partnership visit www.teenagecancertrust.org/homeretailgroup