A team of Marks & Spencer employees have been awarded the esteemed “Judges Choice” accolade for this year’s Business in the Community’s ‘Cares Shops’ Challenge’ for their takeover of a Lisburn Action Cancer store.

Six M&S staff members from across Northern Ireland, including Ronnie McDonald and Alan Stewart from the Lisburn store, took over the charity’s homeware shop on Market Street for the day with an “Alice in Wonderland” theme.

The M&S team was one of fourteen companies who tried their hand at running an Action Cancer shop, with a whopping £94,000 raised in total.

The "Judges Choice" Award won by Marks & Spencer was made up of 4 elements all worth 25% each - Mystery Shop score on the day; Innovation and Creativity used in the shop; Sustainability Plan; and Boardroom Showdown at the Gala Ball in the Europa Hotel.

The 14 competing companies were M&S, Armstrong Medical, Boots, Caterpillar, Compass Group, firmus energy, firstsource, fonaCAB, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, O'Hare & McGovern, South West College, SPAR, UTV and Veolia Water. The overall winner of the challenge was Boots.

Peter Lynch, Action Cancer Shops’ Manager adds: “Every pound raised makes a real difference to people across Northern Ireland. Since Action Cancer’s BIG BUS went on the road in 2006 we have provided over 26,800 breast screenings and 15,300 M.O.T. health checks which take place on board the bus itself.

“The funds raised through our shops go directly to supporting someone’s grandparent through their treatment, someone’s mother, daughter or aunt who is facing breast cancer, a dad who has just learned that he has prostate cancer, to name just a few.”

“The money raised during this challenge will be used to help people here in Northern Ireland and we are indebted to the businesses involved in the challenge for raising such an impressive sum of money.”

To find out more visit, www.bitcni.org.uk

Pictured: The M&S team, including Ronnie McDonald and Alan Stewart from Lisburn, with judge Jim Eastwood.