A team from Wrexham climbed Wales’ highest peak to raise a mountain of cash for a cancer charity.
The five, who all work at the Boots UK store at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre, decided to take on the challenge of climbing Snowdon in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
Andrew Dobie, Avril Ramsey, Eleanor Bellis, Daniel Keats and Nathan McCarthy, chose Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of a store colleague’s mother, who had received a huge amount of support from the charity.
Team Manager Sharon Harrington explained how Macmillan nurses helped her mum in the weeks leading up to her death, after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer seven years ago.
She said: “I’ve been at Boots since I left school and we have become like a big family. Mum used to come into the shop to see me, so everyone knew her. She even joined in with our Christmas staff party.
“I was devastated, we all were, when she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
“She had recovered from bladder cancer and had been given the all clear. When she got cancer again, this time in her pancreas, sadly it was inoperable.”
“The Macmillan nurses helped her so much. I think it was a relief that she had someone she could talk openly to. She didn’t want to burden her family but she got so much comfort out of being able to simply talk about the things she wanted to talk about and to get things off her chest.”
Sharon is incredibly thankful for the Macmillan nurses who looked after her mum.
She said: “It takes a special kind of person to do what they do. I know I couldn’t do it. They put mum at ease and were so calm and dignified. They were always quite happy to be mum’s sounding board and listen to her frustrations.
“I was certainly pleased when I heard the gang from Boots here at Eagles Meadow were doing the sponsored walk up Snowdon in memory of mum, as well as the fact that Macmillan is one of Boots UK’s charity partners.
“I think they did a cracking job walking to the summit, I’m not sure I’d manage it. They have raised a great amount of cash for Macmillan Cancer Support, which I am absolutely thrilled with.”
Photo Consultant and Duty Manager Andrew Dobie who led the team said: “I knew Sharon’s mum quite well and we were all really devastated when she passed away seven years ago.
“Macmillan Cancer Support is one of Boots UK’s charity partners. We decided to do the sponsored walk as Macmillan is such a good cause and one we really wanted to support.
Avril Ramsey said: “The weather was shockingly bad, high winds and lashing rain so I’m not really sure how we managed it!
“Between us, we raised £350 with money still coming in.
Store Manager Sue Spain is delighted with the fundraising efforts of her staff.
She said: “They did really well and the amount of money they have raised is brilliant.
“We also had a static cycle in store on Saturday which staff took time to ride. We invited members of the public to donate loose change into a bucket which is also being donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.
“Our customers here at Eagles Meadow were extremely generous and really supported our efforts.”
