Tesco sponsors Stand Up To Cancer in the UK

Tesco has has announced that it will be lead sponsor for Stand Up To Cancer, a major new campaign being launched in the UK by Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.

The campaign aims to raise enough money to accelerate ground-breaking research and bring forward the day when all cancers are cured, says the company.

The Stand Up To Cancer campaign will invite everyone to stand up in the fight against the disease by donating money, taking part in fundraising events and enjoying a range of special programmes on Channel 4, culminating in an night of live television on Friday, 19th October, 2012, hosted by some of C4's biggest names, including Davina McCall, Alan Carr and Dr Christian Jessen.

Tesco customers will be able to Stand Up To Cancer in a variety of ways including:

  •   The opportunity to buy a range of selected products in store and online with a donation being made on customers' behalf

  •   Adding a £1 donation to their shopping bill when paying online or in store with the help of a donation barcode in the latest issue of Tesco Magazine

  •   Purchasing Stand Up To Cancer wristbands and pin badges from Tesco stores and garages for a suggested donation of £1

  •   Donating £1.50 to Stand Up To Cancer by texting the code TESCOMAG to 70444

Tesco customers will also be able to pick up a Stand Up To Cancer donation bag in selected stores to fill with pre-loved items, including clothes, shoes, accessories, CDs and books. They can return the bag to the store on 20th and 21st October or take it directly to a Cancer Research UK shop for resale. Customers will then receive a money off voucher to spend on Tesco clothing. Tesco will donate 25p to the campaign for every voucher redeemed.

Philip Clarke, Tesco's Chief Executive said: "We have built on over a decade of support for Cancer Research UK's Race for Life events series by appointing them Tesco Charity of the Year for 2012 and together we hope to raise £10 million to help with the early diagnosis of cancer.

"I am proud to announce our continued commitment to helping the nation fight this disease by pledging our support to Stand Up To Cancer, a campaign that aims to raise money to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.

"So whether it's by adding a donation to your shopping bill in store or online, purchasing a Stand Up to Cancer wristband or pin badge, or donating directly to Cancer Research UK, we are calling on everyone in the UK to get involved and Stand Up To Cancer".

Claire Rowney, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Cancer Research UK said: "We're delighted to be strengthening our close relationship with Tesco by having them on board as our lead sponsor for this incredibly exciting campaign. Stand Up To Cancer offers our partners a multitude of ways to get involved and we're thrilled Tesco are getting behind it so wholeheartedly.

"We're looking forward to working together on Stand Up To Cancer, and we can't wait to see the culmination of everybody’s efforts on the live show on the 19th October.”

More information about what Tesco is doing to support Stand Up To Cancer can be found by visiting www.tesco.com/standup or via the latest copy of Tesco magazine, available in all Tesco stores.

Since Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) began in the USA in 2008 with a telecast across ABC, CBS and NBC, it has harnessed the support of the entertainment industry to raise more than $180 million for cancer research focused on bringing more effective and less toxic treatments to patients quickly. SU2C is an Entertainment Industry Foundation initiative.

Funds raised through the Stand Up To Cancer campaign will go specifically towards the UK's leading clinical research, ensuring that new treatments get to patients faster. UK-based researchers at hospitals, universities, charities and research institutes across the UK will be able to apply for grants from the Stand Up To Cancer fund through an open call for proposals. Reflecting the collaboration with the USA, twenty per cent of funds raised will support UK–US collaborative research to develop state-of-the-art new treatments to benefit patients here in the UK.