Portlaoise mum has Christmas all wrapped up after €330 Trolley Dash
Store manager Ivars Zemvalds with Christmas Trolley Dash winner Aideen Kehoe and Andrew Kehoe, who took home over €330 worth of goods from the Lidl Portlaoise store. Photo: Justin Farrelly
A PORTLAOISE woman has Christmas all wrapped up, after scooping €330 worth of festive goodies in Lidl's Christmas Trolley Dash.
Aideen Kehoe ran through the aisles at breakneck speed, with only two minutes to complete the sweep-style dash at the Portlaoise store.
The mother-of-two took it all in her stride, as she grabbed a trolley-full of chocolates, crisps, soft drinks and groceries for a festive family feast. The fleet-footed shopper even had the presence of mind to grab a multi-pack of toilet rolls!
A delighted Aideen, who works at St Vincent's Hospital in Mountmellick, was joined by her husband Andrew for a photo shoot at the store on 18 December, as she was congratulated by store manager Ivars Zemvalds.
It was all for a very deserving cause, as Lidl Ireland’s Christmas Trolley Dash raised €314,123 nationally for Family Carers Ireland, including more than €2,000 from Laois customers.
Lidl said that the popular fundraising initiative received widespread support across Ireland, with 100% of the proceeds supporting family carers and young carers across the country.
Since its launch in 2014, Lidl Ireland’s Trolley Dash has raised more than €2.5 million for its charity partners, with winners also taking home thousands of euros worth of Lidl’s award-winning festive food and treats.
In November, Lidl unveiled its new official charity partner, Family Carers Ireland, which provides free supports and services such as guidance on rights and entitlements, peer support networks, learning and education, emergency care planning, respite, counselling, young carer support and more.
Commenting on the success of this year’s campaign, the retail chain’s corporate affairs director Eimear O’Sullivan said: “We are proud to announce that this year’s Trolley Dash has raised an incredible €314,123 for Family Carers Ireland, marking a fantastic start to our new three-year charity partnership.
“Trolley Dash is our flagship fundraising initiative and it’s wonderful to see our customers and employees coming together to support such an important cause.
“We’re incredibly proud of this achievement and grateful to everyone who participated in and supported this year’s dashes. I’d also like to say a massive well done to our 182 lucky Trolley Dash winners, who took on the challenge in their local stores this past weekend."
Lidl has committed to raising €1 million in funds over the next three years for Family Carers Ireland.
The charity’s head of communications and policy Catherine Cox thanked Lidl Ireland, its employees and its customers for their unwavering support and the substantial Trolley Dash donation.
She said: “We are blown away by the generosity of those who supported the Trolley Dash campaign, especially in these challenging times. This incredible total raised will be transformative, in enabling us to continue delivering our vital services in support of family carers across the country.
“Family Carers Ireland’s mission is to ensure that family carers are properly recognised, supported and empowered so that no one has to care alone, and these funds will go a long way in supporting some of our services and in raising awareness of family carers in our communities, our charity and the work that we do.”
