Tesco Bags of Help scheme in Cornwall gives out £50,000

Tesco is marking its centenary year with two special Bags of Help funding rounds, giving away a combined £100,000 to Cornwall.

In the first round, customers were asked to vote on their favourite of three charities concentrating on health and wellbeing, with the one receiving the most tokens at the end awarded the highest percentage of £50,000.

In first place, Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust was awarded £25,000, with Cancer Research UK given £15,000 in second place and Cardiac Risk in the Young receiving £10,000 in third place.

A cheque for £15,000 is presented to Cancer Research UK

Cath Collier, trusts and grants fundraising officer for Cornwall Air Ambulance, said: “We are delighted with the support of Tesco Bags of Help, and would like to extend our gratitude to Tesco, their staff and all the customers who have supported Cornwall Air Ambulance by voting over the last few months.

“The funding will support the medical fit out of a new air ambulance helicopter, helping to transform emergency medical care across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for many years to come.

“As a result, our Critical Care Paramedics will fly more missions, saving many more lives of residents and visitors.”

Sophie Barber, Cornwall spokesperson for Cancer Research UK, said the grant would help provide free, locally tailored support to GPs and healthcare professionals, to give them more confidence to recognise and act on suspicious symptoms, with early diagnosis and prevention of cancer the main aim of this scheme.

Cardiac Risk in the Young receives £10,000

Cardiac Risk in the Young helps to raise awareness of young sudden cardiac death, including sudden arrhythmic death syndrome.

Another voting round is now underway in stores now, on three new charities. Customers can vote for the project they wish to receive the top prize using blue tokens handed out at checkouts.