Sainsbury’s staff get sporty for charity

Pictured during the at the Sports Relief Swimathon are Paul Mawhinney, manager of Carrickfergus Amphitheatre; Sharyn Ingrey; Amy Leathem; Rebecca Parkes and Bea Cox, Carrick Sainsbury's store manager. INCT 13-734-CON

The nationwide charity campaign brings together the worlds of sport and entertainment to raise money to help vulnerable people in both the UK and the world’s poorest countries.

Staff at the Rodgers Quay branch kicked off the campaign in style on March 21 with a ‘flash mob’ dance.

Customers were encouraged to donate to Sport Relief at the store’s collection point, with several staff members taking part in other events last weekend.

These including a sponsored ‘swimathon’ at Carrickfergus Amphitheatre by Sharyn Ingrey, Amy Leathem and Rebecca Parkes, which generated £450 for the campaign.

Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s PR Ambassador Anne Patterson and Carrick staff member Elaine Dowell put their best foot forward for the Sport Relief mile at the Valley Leisure Centre on March 23.

Elaine and Craig Wylie will also take part in a sponsored climb on April 6 up Northern Ireland’s highest peak, Slieve Donard, with a fundraising target of £1000 already set for the feat.

Anne Patterson said: “Sainsbury’s CEO Justin King took part in the Belfast Sports Relief mile on Thursday (March 20) along with one of our store colleagues, Allen Russell.

“We are still counting the final amount raised but quite a lot of it was through the products we sold; at the moment Sainsbury’s in Carrickfergus is topping the leaderboard which is great for a small store.”