Staff to raise even more

STAFF at a Forres High Street charity shop handed over £20,000 to two worthy causes.

Longest serving Forres Cancer Support volunteer Jean Mackenzie (second left) presented a cheque for £10,000 to Alan Marshall of Marie Curie, while colleague Sheila Campbell (right) presented the same amount to Elspeth Mackenzie of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Sheila explained that the £20,000 was raised through sales of donated clothes, books and toys at 48 High Street since January.

She said: "Every penny we make goes to cancer charities. We've done this for 15 years for Macmillan and made something like £360,000 for them. It was our first time donating to Marie Curie. Next year we will choose other cancer charities."

Marie Curie is a registered charitable organisation which provides care and support to people with terminal illnesses and their families. More than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals help provide this care. At the nine Marie Curie Hospices, quality of life for patients is actively promoted as is providing much needed support for their carers. Marie Curie provides the largest number of hospice beds outside the National Health Service.

Macmillan Cancer Support provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer. It also looks at the social, emotional and practical impact cancer can have, and campaigns for better cancer care.

The Forres Cancer Support shop is run by 12 unpaid volunteers.

Sheila added: "Nine have been affected by cancer in some way so our work is a good way of giving back for all the help we've received.

"We appreciate so much the donations from the community. Our shop wouldn't exist without you."