Wisbech charity store raising awareness of bowel cancer
Staff at a Wisbech charity superstore are launching a fundraising effort in aid of bowel cancer and awareness.
The team at the Cancer Research UK shop off Cromwell Road is trying to raise awareness of the disease in memory of Deborah James who did so much to raise the profile of bowel cancer through her Bowel Babe’s Campaign.
Nadine Ridgewell, who has been at the store for the past seven years, has upcycled furniture and ornaments to sell, as well as created some paintings and drawings for the fundraising effort that is being launched on Monday, June 24.
Nadine joined the volunteers at the store after suffering an aggressive but non-cancerous brain tumour for over 20 years.
The treatment of radiotherapy and an operation damaged part of the brain that controls signals to her organs so was not well enough to take a full-time job.
She joined the Cancer Research shop’s volunteers partly for the company and partly to give something back.
Nadine said: “I went to cancer research for the company as I was lonely and to try to help a charity to give something back because I wasn’t well enough to work properly. I had no confidence and was not in a good place, but Cancer Research UK changed my life .
“I worked voluntarily for two years and then I started on a new treatment and felt a lot better, a part-job then came up and I was told to go for it and I ended up getting it and it was OK for me.
“Eventually a full-time job came up and after an interview I was lucky enough to get that too. So now I’ve been back full-time and employed for seven years after being unable to work for 20 years.
“I have my confidence back and I love working with the staff and volunteers we are like a big family we go out for meals, bingo - we are a good bunch we have some amazing volunteers some who have lost loved ones to cancer, some who are just looking to help a charity, some who come for the company and others who want to learn new things.”
She added the store is always looking for more volunteers and Nadine said: “Some volunteers do an odd hour some do certain days some do weekends whatever suits you. Every day is a new challenge and we all work hard to help beat cancer. So if you are interested please pop in and see us.”
In the meantime, the team along with the store’s manager Stacey Corthorn will be doing as much as they can to raise awareness and funds between Monday (24) and June 29.
It will include staff donning fancy dress and handing out sweets on June 29, while the upcycled items created by Nadine are on sale now at the store.
