Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King completed his 32-mile run across the UK on Saturday, having raised more than £100,000 for Sport Relief.
Sainsbury’s increased its pledged donations to Sport Relief to £4m from the estimated £3m. This is the retailer’s biggest fund raising donation to date for Sport Relief.
King said: “We have smashed the £2.3m raised last Sport Relief and the original target we set ourselves this year.
“Sainsbury’s customers and colleagues have clubbed together to raise an incredible £4m and I am absolutely bowled over by the support that has been given to this great cause.”
Over the previous four days, King ran 32 miles in total – one mile in 32 different locations across the UK. He began his first mile in Holywood, in Belfast, last Tuesday and completed his final run in Barnet, London.
He was joined on each leg of the run by colleagues from stores across the country, and he encouraged colleagues and customers to enter the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile on Sunday at hundreds of locations across the country.
King said: “I am always amazed and humbled by the fantastic work that Sport Relief does. I have been privileged to see firsthand the positive effect money can have in transforming lives both in the UK and in the world’s poorest countries.
“I set myself a personal challenge to run a mile in each of Sainsbury’s 32 store regions over four days and I am very proud to say that we’ve raised more than £100,000 through sponsorship and donations we’ve received along the way.”
The retailer has been a principle supporter of Sport Relief since 2006 and has since raised over £8m. This year, 150,000 Sainsbury’s colleagues throughout the country have joined King in supporting Sport Relief and have worked with local schools and organisations and customers to raise much needed funds.
In addition to its fundraising efforts, Sainsbury’s has also made it easier than ever for customers to donate to Sport Relief. Through Sainsbury’s new ’round-up’ system customers have been able to give the charity the change from their Sainsbury’s shopping bill, rounding up to the nearest pound.
Kevin Cahill, Comic Relief chief executive, said: “We’ve always been immensely impressed with how Sainsbury’s colleagues embrace our fundraising campaigns. Justin’s 32 miles around the UK is another great example of how to lead from the front, and bring people together to get active, raise cash and change lives.”
Source: Sainsbury’s
