Tragedy hit family welcomes reopening of Chorley charity shop

Karen and Georgia Kelly pictured at home in June 2015

After three months closed because of conronavirus staff and volunteers at the shop are now getting back to business to tackle a shortfall in funding caused by the pandemic.

With its shops typically contributing more than £25m every year to vital research, Cancer Research UK has suffered a dramatic loss of income since they were forced to close temporarily at the end of March.

The shop is observing social distancing and has hand sanitiser stations plus cough guards at till points, face coverings and gloves for shop staff and volunteers, additional cleaning and a 72-hour quarantine period for donated items.

Karen Kelly, who lives in Adlington with her husband Phil, lost her nine-year-old daughter Georgia to neuroblastoma in 2015.

The plucky youngster faced years of hospital admissions, surgery, chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, immunotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. At one point she was enrolled onto a Cancer Research UK funded clinical trial.

Following her death, Karen and Phil moved to Chorley from Westhoughton for a fresh start.

Karen, 44, who is a paediatric nurse, also lost her father Sam to cancer just months before Georgia was diagnosed.

She said: “I understand all too clearly what a lack of funding could mean for the development of new treatments for individuals impacted by cancer like my dad and Georgia.

“Research gave us more precious time with Georgia, so I hope people will be inspired by the charity’s determination to carry on beating cancer and show their support – they really could save lives.”

Jane Bullock, Cancer Research UK North West spokeswoman, said: “To save lives tomorrow, we need the public’s support today - so we want people to know we’re making every effort to create a safe shopping experience.

“Covid-19 has hit us hard and after three long months we’re delighted to be able to welcome new and familiar faces back through our doors again, as well as a host of new donations.”

Thanks to the generosity of its supporters Cancer Research UK currently funds around 50 per cent of all cancer research in the UK.

The Cancer Research UK shop at 33 Chapel Street, Chorley, is now open, but the shop at 27 Chapel Street remains closed for the time-being.