Tesco staff support My WiSH Charity
Staff at the Tesco store in Newmarket have helped to raise over £1,000 in a day for the My WiSH Charity, who support West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, with the money benefitting the Macmillan Unit at the West Suffolk Hospital in memory of a former member of staff.
It came as a tribute to Geoffrey Siango, who worked in the fruit and veg department of the store in Fordham Road.
The 35-year-old died of cancer back in April prompting staff to help raise the money to support the charity, which enhances the care of patients at the hospital in Bury St Edmunds, with the money directed towards the unit which cared for him.
Geoffrey, an avid Chelsea supporter, joined Tesco back in 2019, and was a popular member of staff.
Zara Reynolds-Peirce, the community champion at the store, said the total amount raised for My WiSH amounted to £1075.93 and was organised by staff members Becky Reville, Nicola Collis, Rachel Aylott and Sam Youtzy.
They dressed in the blue and white colours of Chelsea for the day with a series of in-store events taking place including a tombola, raffle and a square game where the winner gave back her £75 prize.
Zara said: “We wanted to do something for the hospital and in memory of Geoffrey and raise money for the hospital’s cancer unit. It was incredible to raise that amount of money in one day. A lot of people come into the store and everyone loved the tombola and raffle and it’s a really good way to generate the money.
“Everyone dressed up in blue and white and it was a great day.”
The fundraising at the store comes after it supported My WiSH earlier in the year when six members of staff raised £1,070, for the stroke ward at the hospital where one of their colleagues was treated after he suffered a stroke.
Meanwhile, Zara is supporting Chris Woolley with another fundraising day for the charity at the store this coming Saturday, July 18, as he is organising a Fun Day, on Saturday, July 24, at the Millennium Centre, in Red Lodge, in aid of My WiSH Charity.
Sally Daniels, fundraising manager, thanked the Tesco staff for their amazing support and said, “It was a pleasure to meet everyone and to be able to thank them in person for their hard work. This money will make such a difference to cancer patients across west Suffolk. Huge thanks too to Zara for supporting Chris with his fun day. We really do have a fantastic community around the Newmarket area and we are so grateful”.
Main photo: left to right, Rachel Aylott, grocery lead manager; Sam Youtzy, customer assistant; Nicola Collis, fresh lead manager; Zara Reynolds-Peirce, community champion; and Becky Reville, produce manager.
Written by Russell Cook for My WiSH Charity