Poundland donates £136,000 from carrier bag donations in Wales

Poundland’s Welsh stores and their customers have raised more than £136,000 over the past year to help fund vital research into the fight against cancer in Wales.

The discount retailer has donated £136,559 to Cancer Research Wales from the 5p charge on the sale of plastic carrier bags at its stores in Wales.

Poundland has been donating money from bag sales to the charity since the levy was introduced in 2011 and the total raised has now passed £500,000.

The money has been used in ground-breaking research projects into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in Wales.

They include the development of a blood test for early detection of bowel cancer by Swansea University. Creation of an easy, cheap and reliable test should see more cancer patients diagnosed and treated earlier than ever before, helping improve survival rates for a cancer which causes more than 900 deaths in Wales each year. Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in Wales.

Ann Tate, chief executive officer, Cancer Research Wales, said: “We’d like to thank Poundland, their staff and customers, for the wonderful support they have given to us over many years. This valuable relationship has raised over £500,000 in total, making them by far our largest corporate donor.

“More importantly, as we rely entirely on voluntary contributions to fund our research, they have contributed to improving the lives of people in Wales affected by cancer.

“Thanks to supporters such as Poundland, Cancer Research Wales can fund more ground-breaking research in Wales which can literally change lives and give hope. Now, more than ever, we rely on the generosity of our individual and corporate supporters to raise vital funds. ”

Barry Williams, Poundland managing director, said: “We’re very proud to be able to support Cancer Research Wales and the amazing research they are doing. It’s something our colleagues and customers in Wales care about deeply.

“To raise £136,559, particularly in these extraordinary times, is a fantastic achievement and it will make a tremendous difference to cancer research and ultimately to the community.”

Poundland is committed to reducing the number of bags in landfill and ensures all plastic bags sold in stores are made from recyclable material.