A SUPERMARKET is starting a year of fundraising this week after selecting their chosen charity for 2011.

Staff at the Co-operative in White Street, Great Dunmow, will be joining the campaign from Mencap and will be wearing a variety of running and racing gear and dressing as cheerleaders with pom-poms to kick-start the initiative.

Store manager Adie Flude said: “We want to boost the confidence of young people with a learning disability – so they can stand tall and hold their heads high.

“It’s the start of a busy year of fundraising and we’ll have a lot to do before we cross the finishing line, but it will be worth it. I’m incredibly proud to have Mencap as our charity of the year.”

The entire Co-op Group is embarking on a year-long programme of fundraising to help the charity transform the lives of thousands of young people with a learning disability, as part of its commitment to Inspiring Young People.

With the support of its members and customers, staff across its businesses - including food retail, travel, funerals, pharmacy, banking, insurance and farming - will be taking part in a series of events in aid of Mencap, and its sister charity ENABLE Scotland.

The money raised will be used to launch projects to work with 20,000 young people with a learning disability, along with parents, carers and local communities.