Four community stores in County Armagh recently combined their efforts to contribute over £8,300 towards a 10-store fundraising initiative for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of Henderson Retail colleague Tracey Belshaw.
In total, £14,164.73 was raised by all stores, led by Tracey’s colleagues at EUROSPAR P&G in Portadown. Henderson Group have added to the stores’ fundraising, bringing the total donation to £27,164.
The team at EUROSPAR P&G sadly lost their colleague and good friend, Tracey Belshaw earlier this year. Tracey was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May 2025 and passed away just four weeks later in June.
The teams at SPAR Silverwood, EUROSPAR Lurgan and EUROSPAR Gilford joined EUROSPAR P&G in holding a number of fundraising events and initiatives in aid of the cancer charity as part of a wider fundraising initiative with six other stores across the country.
The four Co. Armagh stores were joined in fundraising for Macmillan by ViVOXTRA Banbridge and EUROSPAR Moundview in Co. Down and Co. Tyrone stores EUROSPAR Donaghmore, EUROSPAR Ranfurly, SPAR Quarry Lane and SPAR Moygashel.
The team at EUROSPAR P&G took part in an instore spin-a-thon and held weekly raffles for four weeks, with prizes for shoppers kindly donated by local businesses. The store held a BBQ for shoppers, with burgers donated by Trevor Lewis at The Butcher Shop and Deli and baps donated by West End Bakery. Hanover Football Club also took collection buckets to one of their matches to aid donations. EUROSPAR P&G worked with Henderson Print to design and print a recipe book which was then sold instore with proceeds going to the charity. EUROSPAR P&G raised £5,066 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
EUROSPAR Lurgan hosted a community fun day with face painters, balloon modellers and food sampling for shoppers. The team held a raffle in exchange for donations, with exciting prizes for shoppers including a meat hamper, donated by their instore butcher, a grocery filled hamper, a local hairdressing voucher along with other prizes. The store’s initiatives raised £1,400.
A raffle was also held at EUROSPAR Gilford, giving shoppers the chance to win £50 vouchers to be spent instore, raising £1,250 for Macmillan.
Six team members from SPAR Silverwood took part in an instore spinathon, raising £613 for the charity.
Lynn Smiley, store manager at EUROSPAR P&G commented, “Tracey’s passing had a huge impact on the whole team at our store and we wanted to do as much as we could to raise money in memory of Tracey as Macmillan Cancer Support was Tracey’s chosen charity. In support of this, ten stores came together to fundraise in memory of Tracey.
“We appreciate the support from the other stores and all our shoppers, it means so much to us and they all helped us pay a great tribute to our dear friend Tracey, who is so missed by our team. Macmillan are a fantastic charity and we’re proud to have supported them in helping more people across Northern Ireland.”
George Rankin, Retail Director at Henderson Group commented, “We’re so proud of all ten teams who came together for such an amazing cause and in memory of Tracey. It’s great to see stores from different counties support each other with initiatives that are close to their hearts and put in so much time and effort into fundraising.
“Being at the heart of their communities, fundraising for local charities and initiatives is central to each of our stores and it is so inspiring to see this developed further in support of other stores and to honour individuals from different communities. They have raised an amazing total for Macmillan Cancer Support, and it will make such a difference to the deserving charity.”
Joanne Young from Macmillan Cancer Support added, “We wish to extend a huge thank you to all 10 store teams for their incredible fundraising efforts. The money raised will go such a long way, helping us to provide much-needed support and care for people who are living with cancer and their families.”
