Sainsbury’s Bexleyheath hosted its first fundraising event with its new Local Charity of the Year, Stroke Association. The fundraiser which happened in store marks the start of a yearlong partnership with the charity.

Stroke Association was chosen by Sainsbury’s customers through a public vote in store and online in June. The charity will now receive a year’s worth of support through fundraising and awareness raising from the store.

This weekend’s event included blood pressure checks, emphasising the importance of taking care of your heart and demonstrating ways to do it.

Tilly Coleman, Community and Events Fundraiser, said: “Thank you to everyone who came to support us at Sainsbury’s Bexleyheath over the weekend. We’re really excited to have been chosen as the store’s new Local Charity of the Year as the partnership will help us to raise the profile of the work we do in the local community.”

“Our events include three Resolutions Runs in Kent, Surrey and Sussex on a yearly basis, Give a Hand and Bake, which runs through October 2017, Make Purple yearly (do anything purple, wear purple to work), Christmas activities as well as 3rd party events such as Rough Runner, Thames Bridges, Bike Rides and The Color Run.”

Mani Powar, Store Manager at Sainsbury’s Bexleyheath, added: “We had a very successful launch for our new Local Charity of the Year, Stroke Association. I’d like to thank all of our customers for their support on the day and can’t wait to see how the partnership develops over the next year.”

The Local Charity scheme is now in its ninth year and has raised over 13 million to support local charities since 2009.

You can find out more about the Stroke Association at www.stroke.org.uk