Argos corporate news
Argos giant jar gives cancer charities gifts
07 February 2008
It was toys galore and smiles all around when leading cancer charity Leukaemia Research visited Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) last week with toys donated to them from high street retailer Argos.
At the end of an online competition to promote the launch of the catalogue, Argos had £10,000 worth of products that had filled a giant two metre tall sweet jar. They commissioned the construction of the huge jar and filmed a silent comedy that shows it being filled with products, viewed online at www.giantjar.co.uk. The competition generated half a million views and more than 100,000 entries to the game.
Following the announcement of the winner Argos donated all the items to Leukaemia Research, Argos’ charity of the year. The retailer has pledged to raise £400,000 by July 2008 for research into blood cancers including leukaemia, Hodgkin’s and other lymphomas and myeloma. So far, fundraising efforts have exceeded the initial target, raising over £470,000 for Leukaemia Research.
David Grant, Scientific Director of Leukaemia Research said: "Argos' partnership with Leukaemia Research has been hugely successful so far and we are delighted to receive the Giant Jar items, which will be used to raise even more money to beat blood cancers."
Leukaemia Research and Great Ormond Street Hospital have been working together for decades by funding research undertaken at the hospital, helping to help improve the lives of children with leukaemia and other blood cancers. Continuing in the spirit of partnership, Leukaemia Research decided to donate toys from the Giant Jar to Great Ormond Street Hospital for the children on the wards.
Tim Johnson, Director at Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity said: “We are the largest centre in Europe for children with cancer and offer specialist children's health care. Through the Leukaemia Research partnership the children really benefit. We are very grateful for the donated toys - they will help to make children feel at home while they are undergoing treatment.”
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