Big-hearted sales staff have gone into action to raise funds for a children’s cancer charity – and they’ve even roped in their relatives to help out.
Members of the team at the Wallis womenswear store in Eagles Meadow have spent weeks assembling a host of goodies for a raffle in aid of the their chosen charity, CLIC Sargent, which provides vital emotional, practical and financial support to young cancer patients and their families during and after treatment.
It’s the latest big charitable effort by staff at the shop who in the past have being involved in fundraisers such as a sponsored walk along the Llangollen Canal.
Manager Ann Littler said: “CLIC Sargent is the charity supported by Wallis shops across the country and is one that’s very dear to our hearts as many of the sales team here at Eagles Meadow have children of their own.
“We’ve also had customers who have had children suffering from cancer.
“It’s a hard fact that every day in the UK 10 children and young people hear the shocking news that they have cancer
“Being diagnosed with cancer is a frightening experience and the emotional, practical and financial implications of treatment are very challenging for the whole family.
“CLIC Sargent’s provides help in lots of ways, including clinical, practical and emotional support to children and young people with cancer, and their families.
“It gives financial support including grants and benefits information to help deal with the financial impact of cancer.
“The charity also arranges accommodation close to specialist hospitals, so that families can be close to their children during treatment and it arranges free holidays and short breaks so that families can spend time together.”
The UK-wide charity’s patrons include former tennis ace Tim Henman, and interior design guru and TV favourite from BBC show Changing Rooms, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.
It provides clinical, practical, financial and emotional support to children and young people, and their families.
From diagnosis onwards they aim to help the whole family deal with the impact of cancer, its treatment, life after treatment, and in some cases, bereavement.
Ann added: “As this is a children’s charity we’re supporting the grand raffle will feature three very worthwhile prizes all suitable for babies and very young children and all of them have been bought by our staff.
“The main prize will be a large hamper which we’ve packed with things suitable for girls and boys, including a blanket, little cardigans, toiletries, bibs and baby toys.
“There are also two others hampers as prizes, one of which is suitable for a girl baby and the other for a baby boy.
“The mum and gran of our senior sales assistant, Lisa Jones, have also been busy for the past few months knitting things for the hampers like little jackets, cot covers and blankets, and we’re so grateful for their help.
“It’s also quite likely that our friends at some of the other shops in Eagles Meadow will be donating prizes, so the whole thing should be really worth entering.
“The tickets, which cost a £1 a strip, are on sale at the shop now and the big draw will take place at the end of June, when we usually get one of our customers to choose the winners.
“As this is such a good cause we’re hoping we can sell lots of tickets and donate as much money as possible to CLIC Sargent.”
Over the past few years Ann and her team have raised hundreds of pounds from a series of prize raffles in aid of the charity and their other money-spinning ventures for CLIC Sargent have included making £340 from a sponsored five-mile walk along the towpath of the Llangollen Canal from Trevor Basin to the famous Chain Bridge.
Eagles Meadow manager Kevin Critchley said: “I’m delighted to back Ann and her team’s fundraising for such a good cause.
“I have said many times before that I’m no longer surprised to hear of the sheer volume of fundraising ideas staff of Eagles Meadow stores participate in for any number of good causes.”
“It’s wonderful to see and I’m sure Ann and all the team at Wallis will continue raising much needed funds for CLIC Sargent.”
