Generous shoppers in Shrewsbury’s busy Darwin Centre have dug deep for a worthy charity.
It’s become a tradition for passers-by to drop coins into a Christmas display of polar bears on the glass ceiling partition between the floors of the Darwin Centre and this year their contributions added up to almost £1200 – with the Shrewsbury Shopping Centres making up the shortfall.
The money, in coins ranging from 1p to £2, was collected by Russell Hall, Operations Manager of the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside Shopping Centres, and counted and bagged by Centres staff.
He said: “It has become Shrewsbury’s equivalent of the Trevi Fountain and it was amazing how much money had been thrown in there into what is part of our Christmas decorations.
“It took us ages to collect it all, count it and bag it because there was so much there.
“With the polar bears back in hibernation we had to decide what to do with it and we thought that Macmillan Cancer was a deserving cause and we’re delighted to be able to help them.”
The money was accepted by Helen Knight, Fundraising Manager for Macmillan Cancer Support in Shropshire, who said: “We’re delighted to receive this. It is very generous of the Centres and of the people of Shrewsbury.
“All the money raised in Shropshire is spent within the county and we need over £1 million a year to maintain all the support services that we provide.
“These include a cancer information support specialist based in Shrewsbury who can advise on the support and benefits available to people diagnosed with cancer.
“It also includes services such as the Macmillan-trained beauticians at Boots who can provide special makeovers and advice to those who have suffered cancer as well as many different forms of emotional and financial support.”
