Spar gives €10,000 boost to Kildare's Little Way Cancer Support Centre
Spar Ambassador and Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington recently announced that the Little Way Cancer Support Centre in Kildare were to benefit from a €10,000 presentation from local community retailer Spar, after they were announced as one of the winners of SPAR’s nationwide Community Fund initiative.
The Little Way Cancer Support Centre are one of six beneficiaries of the SPAR 60th Community Fund initiative, with five other organisations spread across Connacht, Munster and Leinster also receiving €10,000 in funding. This campaign builds on SPAR’s established Community Fund initiative, which was first launched in December 2021. Ireland’s leading convenience retailer has now made a direct investment of €80,000 to deserving community projects across the country, something that is indicative of SPAR’s ongoing commitment of giving back to local communities and their customers.
More than 1,100 groups from around the country applied for the third wave of funding provided by the SPAR Community Fund and a club representative from those six groups who were successful recently enjoyed a meet and greet session with SPAR Ambassador and Olympic Champion Kellie Harrington when they engaged in fun activities together and explained more about their community work.
Established 20 years ago, The Little Way Cancer Support Centre is a volunteer led cancer support centre providing emotional and practical support to people diagnosed, living with and bereaved from cancer. The demands of the services have grown over the years and in 2022 they provided 850 hours of counselling, holistic therapy and group support in Kildare.
The Spar Community Fund presentation of €10,000 will go towards the costs of the group’s holistic therapies and transport costs for those who aren't able to drive or who don't have people to drive them to appointments.
Irish Olympian and SPAR Brand Ambassador Kellie Harrington said, “The SPAR 60th Community Fund is a fantastic initiative that makes a real difference to the lives of people who are in need of a little support. I am delighted to once again be involved in boosting funds to clubs, groups and programmes across Ireland who are bringing that sense of community and pride to where they live. This is a great way of giving back in a meaningful way and seeing vital community work both acknowledged and rewarded.”
Colin Donnelly, SPAR Sales Director, commented, “For 60 years SPAR retailers have been proud to serve local communities around the country and the SPAR 60th Community Fund allows us to continue our ongoing work of rewarding and acknowledging the communities SPAR retailers are embedded in. It was great to meet representatives of the Little Way Cancer Support Centre and hear about the terrific work they are doing and how the SPAR 60th Community Fund will be able to support their work in a very meaningful way.”