THE Cancer Research UK shop in Middlewich has celebrated 25 years of being open in the town and has raised almost £1.5million for the charity in that time.


The charity shop, on Wheelock Street, opened on August 10, 1989, and two volunteers, Brenda Carson and Chris McGregor have stuck with the shop throughout and have helped raise £1,424,866 over the last 25 years.


Brenda said: “We’ve had a lot of changes since the beginning 25 years ago and it’s been really enjoyable volunteering here.


“I was shocked when I heard how much we had raised, I just couldn’t believe how much but it is incredible.”


Staff at the shop have thanked the Middlewich community for their help and generosity over the years and say the huge figure wouldn’t be possible without them.


Leanne Edwards, Middlewich Cancer Research UK store manager, said: “Over 25 years we have raised almost £1.5million of live saving funds in Middlewich to go towards helping beat cancer sooner.


“This has only been possible with the support from customers old and new and the hard work and dedication from all of the volunteers.


“A huge thank you must be given to Brenda and Chris who have volunteered at the shop from the beginning, for an amazing 25 years.”


The store will be celebrating the anniversary by holding two eighties themed days on Saturday, August 9, and Saturday, August 16, and will be giving 25 per cent off to treat their customers.


Leanne added: “We want to celebrate this massive achievement and thank the community for their fantastic support so it would be really good for people to come and visit us on the two days.”


Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research and funds research into more than 200 types of cancer.


The charity has saved millions of lives by discovering new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, and survival has doubled over the past 40 years with the huge figure raised from the Middlewich store alone making a huge difference.