NO STALLING FOR SUNDERLAND MARKET FUNDRAISING

Lilian Griffiths, aged 71 from South Shields, is a stallholder at Jacky White’s Market in Sunderland and has been fundraising for charities for the last 30 years.

Lilian Griffiths

The traditional market, located within the Bridges Shopping Centre, and which is overseen by Sunderland City Council, has a wide range of products and services and attracts shoppers from across the city.

For the last two years, with the support of fellow stallholders in the market, Lilian has been raising money for our Foundation.

Initially from a table in front of her own stall, LG Fashions, where she sells men’s and women’s clothes, and now extended on to another stall that is currently vacant, Lilian sells second hand goods in exchange for donations to our charity.

Sadly, Lilian lost her brother, John Williams, to cancer seven years ago. Then, in 2018, John’s best friend lost his wife, Anne Ashcroft, to the same disease. That prompted Lilian to begin fundraising for our Foundation.

John Williams

In two years, with every penny donated to us, she has raised an amazing £3,450.

Lilian says: “I’ve helped a number of charities over the years, including St Clare’s Hospice in Jarrow, which is such a miss to us all. They were there for me when I lost my brother, John, to cancer seven years ago.

“John’s best friend, Brian, would come and sit with him when he was poorly. Then Brian’s wife, Anne, also died from cancer and that’s when I thought I should do some fundraising for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

“People are very kind and donate all sorts of things for the stall. It’s mainly second-hand books but there are also lots of DVDs, CDs and puzzles and things. It works really well because we’re making use of things that might have ended up being thrown away and people can pick up a bargain.

Anne Ashcroft

“In fact, people often buy a pile of books and then donate them back again once they’ve read them.

“The other stall holders here help where they can. And I’m very proud to be playing a part in doing something about cancer.”

Lady Elsie says: “We’re very touched by Lilian’s fundraising for our Foundation.

“She’s a remarkable woman and, like too many of us, has experienced the pain of losing a loved one to cancer.

“To have raised over £3,000 is absolutely magnificent and we’re very grateful to Lilian and the other stallholders at Jacky White’s, who I know help support her efforts. And, of course, to all the visitors to the market who donate or buy the second-hand goods.

“We’ve very appreciative and every penny raised will be put to excellent use through the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation helping cancer patients here in the North East.”

Councillor Graeme Miller, Leader of Sunderland City Council, says: “Well done to Lilian and all the customers who’ve supported her good and charitable works for the Foundation

“Cancer is a terrible disease that strikes at far, far too many of our nearest and dearest.

“All donations and contributions, no matter what their size, help make a difference.”