Around 28 Coles team members from Tweed Heads to Grafton rallied together to walk approximately 45klms from Maclean Showground to the Grafton Mall via Lawrence last Friday, to raise $20,000 for national fresh-food rescue organisation, SecondBite. The walkers who included store managers from local Coles supermarkets including; Grafton Shopping World, Grafton Mall, Yamba and South Grafton, left Maclean at 7am and arrived in Grafton around 4pm. In the past four years, Coles stores in the region have donated more than 100,000 kilograms of fresh produce and bakery items to local people in need, which is equivalent to more than 200,000 nutritious meals. Grafton Mall store manager Frank McDermott established the event known as Walk for a Cause in 2012 and the team has since raised a massive $40,000 for SecondBite. “We initially started Walk for a Cause to raise money so SecondBite could buy a new van to distribute food to local people in need,” he said. “It makes me proud to know that the money we raise each year helps those in need, particularly as I myself have been a child who had to miss meals because the money wasn’t there.” SecondBite CEO Elaine Montegriffo said that they were extremely grateful for Coles generosity and support. “The Coles team from across Australia have demonstrated through their passion, enthusiasm and commitment what can be achieved together,” she said. “What Frank and the other store managers are doing is another powerful example of that commitment.” Walk for a Cause has already received a generous donation from Mike Dowling, CEO of local cleaning company Just 1 Call, who has donated $10,000 this year and Clarence Valley’s local Coles milk supplier, Big River Milk also supplied a refrigerated vehicle, which helped keep the team hydrated with cold drinks. Across Australia, Coles has donated the equivalent of 20 million meals to people in need since partnering with SecondBite in 2011, yet each year two million Australians still struggle to put food on the table. Throughout July, Coles supermarkets in the region are putting a spotlight on food wastage and raising money for SecondBite by selling food storage labels to help customers make the most of their leftovers. Coles’ customers can also donate to SecondBite at any Coles Supermarket throughout July to help provide nutritious meals to people in need across Australia. For more information, please contact: Sara Bordon at Thrive PR + Communications on 0431 942 382 or sara.bordon@thrivepr.com.au .