Returns for Leukemia Campaign Raises Over $1.2 in 2011 and Launches New Campaign May 26, 2012

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow and develops when blood cells produced in the bone marrow grow out of control. Although most difficult for the patient, the patient’s loved ones also carry the stress of treatments and recovery which can be a grueling process. It is in support and respect of those stricken by the debilitating disease that the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 12R24 partner with The Beer Store to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.

Image courtesy of thebeerstore.ca

The successful event is called Returns for Leukemia and it is an annual event that is held each May at The Beer Store and customers are asked to “donate all or a portion of their empty bottles (or cash), with 100% of the proceeds going directly to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.”

Over the past few years the event has raised a grand total of $4,700,000 with the 2011 event earning an astounding $1,212,721.24. To help put this into perspective the returns policy of The Beer Store is that ten cents ($0.10) is given back to the consumer for each bottle that is 630 ml or less and twenty cents ($0.20) for any container larger than 630 ml. That is a lot of bottles.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada was established in 1944 with the goal of curing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. Since 1954 they have raised over $750 million dollars for the cause. They are “the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.”

This year’s event will take place on Saturday May 26th and Sunday May 27th 2012. Those who want to participate but do not have any empties, can make a donation to the event directly or they can volunteer their time as extra hands are definitely needed. They need volunteers to assist retailers across Ontario in greeting patrons and collecting empties. “Volunteers are needed on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Sunday between noon and 5 p.m.”

The Returns for Leukemia Drive is happening after the Victoria Day long weekend which is May 19-21, 2012. As this is the first long weekend of the spring/summer season it is traditionally linked to barbecues, camping, opening up of cottages and indulging. Those who want to support the bottle drive can keep their empty bottles for the following weekend and donate their return to this very worthy cause.

The event’s corporate donors include: Labatt, Molson, CGI, Corus Entertainment, Pattison Sign Group, Beber and Associates, OHE Consultants, Brick, STC Construction Group, Moosehead and Sleemen.

This nonprofit fundraising initiative is a perfect example of the Tanzanian proverb “Little by little, a little becomes a lot.” The amount each customer would receive with their empties is pocket change to most people and yet when this nominal amount is donated by many, great things happen. Let’s hope even more great things happen this year than last year.

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Miratel Solutions is a Toronto call centre, eBusiness, and letter shop mail house specializing in professional fundraising services including telephone fundraising, online fundraising, lottery services, donation caging, donation processing and other donor management services. We are committed to our CSR business values in all contact centre services and mail house operations and advancing the missions of the nonprofits we proudly serve.