Staff at Chester branch of Marks & Spencer raise £34,000 for Down’s Syndrome Association

Apr 8 2009 Chester Chronicle

STAFF at a Chester store raised over £34,000 for charity.

The donation, which exceeded the company’s target of £20,000, was raised for their charity of the year and was accepted by EastEnders star Baby Janet on Monday (April 6).

The M&S Charity Committee team handed over a cheque for £30,000 to the Down’s Syndrome Association, along with a further £4,441 to create a sensory room at Dee Banks special school.

The charity of the year relationship started in April 2008 following a nomination by store services manager Kate Aspey, who is also Baby Janet’s aunt, and the decision to support the DSA was voted for by all 450 members of staff.

Kate said: “The M&S charity committee team encouraged employees to take part in as many events as possible to achieve their original target of £20,000.

“Each department including the management team took part - no fundraising stone was left unturned and through raffles, half marathons, auctions, Christmas tombolas, fashion shows and even retired employees hosting charity lunches the target was well and truly busted, with an extra £10,000 being achieved.”