THE BT Shop for Change campaign is encouraging residents of South Belfast to support their local Marie Curie branch on October 13.

People are asked to donate unwanted clothes or other items at the Botanic branch of the Marie Curie charity shop.

The BT Shop for Change is a one-day takeover of Marie Curie and Irish Cancer Society charity shops which has raised over £260,000 over the last five years.

Christopher Collins from BT said: “In the past five years, we have run this campaign to raise as much money as possible for Marie Curie and the Irish Cancer Society.

“BT staff will be taking over 11 Marie Curie shops across Northern Ireland and we are appealing for members of the public to donate any bags of unwanted clothes and other items that we can sell in the shop to help us raise vital funds for Marie Curie so that they can provide support for local people living with cancer and other terminal illnesses.

“Our theme this year is Disney animation and we will be dressing up in fancy dress costumes to make the day as fun as possible.

“We are appealing for local people to drop bags of unwanted clothes and other items into the Marie Curie Botanic branch on October 13 or beforehand and to also come down to the shop of the day to pick up some great deals, while helping to support a fantastic cause.”

More than 100 volunteers from BT will help to run eleven Marie Curie shops across Northern Ireland on Thursday, October 13 and for every £20 raised Marie Curie can provide one hour of nursing care to local people in need.

Simultaneously, BT colleagues in the Republic of Ireland will be taking over Irish Cancer Society shops.

The teams of volunteers will use their corporate skills to promote their shops, encourage shoppers to visit and ultimately to raise as much money as possible for Marie Curie. The charity will use this money to help run and maintain its Belfast Hospice and nursing care in people’s homes to support more people living with a terminal illness, including cancer.

Rory Best, Ireland captain and BT Shop for Change ambassador, added: “Unfortunately, many of us know loved ones that have been touched by cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Marie Curie treats local people affected by terminal illness and provides generous support to their friends and family.

“We’ve all got clothes that sit unworn year after year or unwanted items lying about the house that others could enjoy. BT Shop for Change is the perfect excuse to gather everything up and donate it to Marie Curie who can sell it to raise vital funds for the work that they do and I am proud to be an ambassador for this initiative.”

BT Shop for Change allows BT employees to use their time, talents and skills to drive awareness, donations and sales to support cancer research and care for people whoe are living with terminal illnesses.

So, pick up a bargain as part of BT Shop for Change at Marie Curie Botanic on October 13.