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M&S ‘Pin-Spired’ To Beat Childhood Leukaemia

Marks and Spencer

31 March 2010

As Sir Ian Botham laces up his trainers for his legendary fundraising walk, he’s calling on Marks & Spencer customers to show their support and help beat childhood leukaemia by purchasing a charity pin badge for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. Throughout April, the pin badges will be sold in main chain M&S stores across the country for the suggested donation of £1. 100% of the proceeds will go to Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. Every pin badge sold will help the charity improve treatments and cures for childhood leukaemia. From 10 -19 April, cricketing legend Sir Ian Botham will be walking over 150 miles through ten towns over ten days on his 25th anniversary fundraising walk for the blood cancer charity. In 1985, when Beefy first started walking for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, the survival rate for the most common form of childhood leukaemia was just 20 per cent. Now the survival rate is 90 per cent. M&S employees across the UK are getting behind Sir Ian with a host of in-store fundraising activities planned throughout the duration of the walk. As an official sponsor of the walk, M&S is also providing Sir Ian and his walking crew with food and clothing for their journey. Steve Rowe, Director of Retail at Marks & Spencer, says: “This is the third year that we are supporting Sir Ian Botham’s legendary fundraising walk and we’re honoured to do so again. Sir Ian will start each leg of his walk at one of our stores and our employees across the country are right behind him with a range of fundraising activities planned. We hope all of our customers buy a pin badge in support Sir Ian’s walk to beat childhood leukaemia and help us raise a record amount.” Sir Ian Botham, President of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, says: “I never forget why I put myself through the pain and blisters. Sign up and join me on the walk and help ensure that every child diagnosed with one of these cancers will survive. I won’t stop until we beat childhood leukaemia, but I can’t do it without you.” Places on each stage of the walk will fill up quickly. If you would like to join Sir Ian on one of his walks please contact Botham Walk Fundraising Coordinator David Blandford on 020 7685 5143 or email beefy25@lrf.org.uk or visit www.beefy25.com. Sir Ian’s walk route will take in:
10 April – M&S Manchester, public walk at Heaton Park 11 April – M&S Birmingham, public walk at Sutton Park 12 April – M&S Worcester, public walk at Croome Park 13 April – M&S Bristol (Broadmead), public walk at Ashton Court Estate 14 April – M&S Winchester, public walk at Mottisfont Abbey 15 April – M&S Sutton, public walk at Epsom Racecourse 16 April – M&S Reading, public walk at Thames Tow Path 17 April – M&S Milton Keynes, public walk at Willen Lake & Campbell Park 18 April – M&S Chelmsford, public walk at Hylands Park 19 April – Public walk at Hyde Park, London, Q&A session at M&S Marble Arch ENDS
For further information please contact: Emma Johnson M&S Corporate PR 020 8718 1980 Serena Snoad Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research press office 020 7209 5037 Notes to the Editor
Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research was previously known as Leukaemia Research. The charity, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2010, has changed its name to raise awareness of its longstanding commitment to research into all the blood cancers, including lymphoma and myeloma - not just leukaemia.
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