A NEW Marks and Spencers store will be raising money for Willowbrook Hospice over the next 12 months.

Employees of the new Simply Food store, set to open in Prescot on Wednesday, October 1 have announced the hospice as their charity of the year.

They will host a year-long fundraising campaign for the hospice, with a range of activities and events, including sponsored walks and runs, bag packs, cake bakes and raffles.

The money raised will help with day to day running of the independently-run hospice which opened in 1997.

Stuart Williams, M&S Simply Food Prescot store manager, said: “Our Prescot team felt that the local hospice was such a worthy cause as it provides vital support to both patients and their families during very difficult times.

“Many of the team have sadly had family members in hospices so they were keen to give something back and make a real contribution to a local charity.

“We look forward to working with Willowbrook Hospice for many months to come and hope that our customers will enjoy the fundraising activities that we have lined up throughout the year.”

Nichola Saunders, fundraising manager from Willowbrook Hospice, added: “We are delighted to have been chosen as we rely so much on the goodwill and generosity of the community that we serve to help us to provide our specialist care free of charge.

“It’s going to be a fantastic year, and we are really looking forward to working with the team at M&S Prescot.”