Staff at a Wrexham store have filled a make-up bag of cash for a cancer charity after giving feel good make-overs to customers for a small donation.
The make-up team from Boots own-brand cosmetics range, No7 wanted to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and gave the free beauty treatments with a suggested £3 donation to the charity.
Sales assistant Ceri Evans says customers at the store’s Eagles Meadow shopping centre were extremely generous.
Ceri said: “We had a really busy time and raised more than £100 which is excellent. It wasn’t so much about raising money as it was about raising awareness of what Macmillan Cancer Support do.
“Along with my work colleague, Emma Nadin, I have been on a course with Macmillan Cancer Support learning how to treat and look after women who have suffered cancer or are undergoing cancer treatment.
“I got a huge amount out of what was quite an emotional training course. Of course we learnt how to help women who have lost all their hair through the side effects of chemotherapy.
“We can help them pencil in eyebrows and eyelashes things like that and advise on the right products for their skin which can be affected by the chemo and other treatments.
“We were also taught how to listen and be a shoulder to lean on. I have some regular customers that have been treated for cancer and some of them like to talk. I think it’s important that we are here to listen.
“Sometimes having someone who isn’t a close family relative or friend but is prepared to listen for however long someone wants to talk is important. It’s about having empathy and having a good ear.”
And long-serving Ceri says she has no intention of hanging up her make-up brush just yet despite starting her 38th year of service with Boots.
She added: “I started in July 1978 and have always worked on beauty. I absolutely love the job. I get to meet so many lovely customers many of whom I know think of as friends.
“I’m a single parent and my daughter, Lianne, who is 16, has just started working at Boots Eagles Meadow on Sundays for a few hours. She currently studying at Coleg Cambria but I’m really pleased she’s landed a few hours a week at Boots.
“It’s a brilliant company to work for and I do feel appreciated and valued which is important. And I do like the No7 products too. I wouldn’t want to sell a product I don’t believe in.”
One of the first up to enjoy a relaxing feel good mini make-over was Wrexham student Kerry Burns, 18, who is studying architecture at Liverpool University.
She said: “It’s a great way of raising money for what is a very good cause. Who wouldn’t think it’s a good idea.
“Fortunately I haven’t had to go through the pain of having a family member or close friend suffer from cancer but I know Macmillan Cancer Support do a huge amount of good work and need to be supported.”
Eagles Meadow manager Kevin Critchley said: “I’m always amazed at the fundraising efforts of shop staff here at Eagles Meadow. There is always something going on which is of great benefit to many good causes.
“Macmillan Cancer Support is a wonderful charity that does a huge amount of good work and it’s fantastic to see Boots staff giving their support.
“I’m also impressed that two members of staff from Boots, Ceri Evans and Emma Nadin, have been trained by Macmillan in how to advise and look after women who are undergoing cancer treatment.”
