CHRISTMAS has certainly come early for one special cancer charity after being handed a record sum from a leading card retailer.
Card Factory, whose founder Dean Hoyle will take over from Ken Davy as chairman of Huddersfield Town after this season’s centenary, has generously donated £1m to Macmillan Cancer Support.
He and his wife Janet were at their store at the White Rose Shopping Centre in Leeds yesterday afternoon.
They were joined by TV presenter and former singer Coleen Nolan, of The Nolan Sisters, who presented the cheque to Macmillan representatives.
Coleen said: “I was absolutely gobsmacked when I heard exactly how much the Card Factory were wanting to donate to Macmillan, it’s astonishing, but the money will definitely be well spent.
“Two of my sisters have suffered from cancer, so Macmillan is a charity very close to my heart. They do an amazing job, not only for the person suffering the illness but for their family and friends.
“It is so important to remember that cancer not only affects the sufferer, but also for all the people around them. Macmillan truly are a well-deserved cause to be receiving this fantastic sum of money.”
The Wakefield-based retailer, which has 400 stores nationwide, has a turnover of £110m.
It has worked closely with Macmillan for the past three years, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds through raffles and a Go Mad Go Green day.
Mr Hoyle said: “The Card Factory is in its tenth year now and we felt we really wanted to give something back by donating a large sum of money to a charity we know will spend it wisely.
“There are so many people affected by cancer, be it directly or indirectly. We hope this money will go a long way in supporting people affected by this terrible illness.”
The donation certainly will make a huge difference to the charity.
It currently costs £47,000 for one Macmillan nurse a year.
The charity also provides practical, emotional and even financial support groups.
