Funeral director preps her walking boots for 100k cliff side trek challenge to raise funds for Dementia UK
Posted by rob smyth | Published: 08/07/2020
A Central England Co-op funeral director is set to take on a 100k cliff side trek to raise vital funds for Dementia UK.
Lucy Metcalfe, who recently took over the reins at Uttoxeter Funeral Home, in Carter Street, is in training to undertake the challenge along the south coast of England to help boost the Society’s corporate charity in supporting people and their families battling the disease.
The 44-year-old, from Stoke-on-Trent, explained the reasons behind taking on the charity effort and also talked about her new role and how she decided to work in the funeral industry.
She said: “I have previously undertaken the Three Peaks Challenge for charity, so I am very much looking forward to this challenge. Dementia is such a challenge for so many families, and it is wonderful to be able to support such a great charity.
“I always subscribe to the motto that if you're going to do something, do it big!”
Lucy has worked for Central England Co-op Funeralcare for just over a year and took over in Uttoxeter just at the onset of the global pandemic.
She said: “I joined Uttoxeter at a challenging time during the current pandemic, but I am really looking forward to being able to set down roots here and become deeply immersed into the community. It is an incredibly exciting opportunity, and I can't wait for the journey.
“I came to the funeral profession late in life. I was inspired to consider it after the care my family received when we suddenly lost my dad in 2018 - I had always wanted to do a role that really made a difference to people's lives, and yet still challenged my mind.
“The combination of the empathy and care required along with the meticulous organisation skills and the ability to stay one step ahead at all times is what drew me to the role.
“I began in the profession as a driver/bearer just over a year ago, and very soon knew that I had found the profession I wanted to remain in for the rest of my life.
“It is an honour and a privilege to go to work every day and to be trusted to care for families and their loved ones.”
Away from work, Lucy has a fiancé and two teenage children, along with four cats and two rabbits. She also plays and officiates Roller Derby and loves music and theatre.
People can support her charity efforts by visiting https://justgiving.com/fundraising/lucymetcalfefd
Notes to editors
Picture caption: Lucy Metcalfe.
About Central England Co-operative
Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK with interests in food, funeral, floral, travel and property investment.
Co-operatives have always been there for their communities; they were formed to protect them and help them flourish.
Our 7,900 colleagues who serve Members and customers work hard to ensure that co-operative values, principles and spirit flow through everything we do to help support and improve our local communities.
Owned by hundreds of thousands of Members, we have over 430 trading outlets across 16 counties including West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
We are proud of our reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.
We invest a percentage of our trading profit into local communities through our Community Dividend Fund scheme, have donated over £1.3 million to our corporate charity partner Dementia UK and also operate a pioneering food redistribution partnership with FareShare Midlands so unsold food goes to those in need.
Visit www.centralengland.coop for more information or follow us on Facebook or Twitter using @mycoopfood
Press office contacts: Rob Smyth and James Brindle
Phone - 01543 421390
Email - publicrelations@centralengland.coop