Countrywide stores raise funds for charity

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By Robert Hale, Ledbury Reporter

A STORE with branches in Malvern, Upton and Ledbury has raised £31,941 for two cancer charities in its first-ever year of staff fundraising Staff at Countrywide, one of the country's leading retailers to the rural community, came up with all sorts of ideas to raise as much money as possible for the two charities, Cancer Research UK and the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer.

Malvern man David Asquith, Countrywide’s director of energy, who led the fundraising drive, said: “We’ve had a fantastic year at Countywide with our first staff charity.
"Not only have our staff raised over £31,000 but we have had a great time doing so as well. Hundreds of employees have been involved in one way or another, whether its bungee jumping 150 feet towards the car park, baking cakes or buying an item in the fashion sale.

"It’s amazing just how many people have had their lives touched by cancer, myself included, and it’s so rewarding to be able to make a difference, however small, by getting involved and becoming a fund raiser. We are all chuffed to bits.”