Downpatrick organisation Mainstay DRP has made a £500 donation to Asda’s Tickled Pink campaign, which funds world class research, life-changing support, and vital breast awareness information to help change the future of breast cancer in the UK.
Mainstay DRP service users completed their own charity colour run raising over £500 and this year, they chose Asda’s charity Tickled Pink to donate the funds to, in memory of former Downpatrick Asda colleague Geraldine Ghosh who sadly passed away from cancer.
Adrian Ghosh who is Geraldine’s son, is also Service Manager at Mainstay, which provides a range of high-quality services which are safe, effective and compassionate for people with learning disabilities and autism, and their families. The organisation supports over 150 service users across residential, supported living, short breaks, and day services in multiple locations in Downpatrick.
Nicola Trainer, Mainstay DRP Community Hub Manager added:
“The diagnosis of cancer is a family experience that changes the lives of all its members, bringing an immense amount of stress and many challenging situations. The money raised for Asda Tickled Pink is in Geraldine’s honour and we’re delighted to help those who need treatment, education, and life changing support.
“Our service users decided themselves they wanted to complete a Colour Run to raise money for Asda’s charity Tickled Pink, in loving memory of Geraldine Ghosh. Adrian and the Ghosh family decided to donate Geraldine’s many Asda costumes to the community hub which our service users were delighted about.
“Geraldine was a beautiful, fun, vibrant, kind-hearted woman and we were honoured that her family thought of us when they donated all her costumes. Our service users remember Geraldine fondly as the lady who always loved dressing up at Christmas, Valentine’s, and Halloween, with her good friend and co-worker Carol who both greeted them when they came into Asda. The two ladies together always brought a smile to everyone and the magic they injected together in Asda Downpatrick is legendary.”
Ciara Smith, Store Manager at Asda Downpatrick, said:
“The donation made to our Tickled Pink campaign is so generous of the Mainstay group, and especially touching for our colleagues at the Downpatrick store as the donation has been made in honour of our dear former colleague Geraldine who passed away from cancer ten years ago.”
As part of its campaign to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Asda Tickled Pink is on a mission to show customers how checking their boobs, pecs and chests can be as normal as their Asda shop.
Now in its 27th year, Asda Tickled Pink is one of the UK’s longest running charity partnerships, and this year over 200 exclusive pink products have hit the shelves that customers can purchase both instore and online, with a range of Asda own label products available to support the campaign and an exclusive George at Asda Tickled Pink clothing range.
Sales of the products will help to raise vital funds for charity partners Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel! With the campaign seeing support from some iconic brands who are turning their packaging pink, including Diet Coke and Heinz Baked Beans.
Throughout 2023, the retailer hopes to raise £7million through product sales and fundraising which is set to be the biggest year so far. The campaign has raised £82 million since it launched in 1996.
Asda’s 2023 survey of its customers revealed that 2 in 5 Asda shoppers regularly check their chests. Yet 24% of female shoppers who have checked before, are forgetting to check regularly enough. Asda Tickled Pink aims to provide this all important reminder.
Asda’s 2023 Tickled Pink campaign encourages everyone, regardless of age, gender or ethnicity to become Real Self-Checkers and establish a regular breast checking routine. In store POS will share the stories of five men and women who are this year’s Real Self-Checkers and highlight the importance of having a regular breast checking routine through their own personal journeys with the disease.
Asda reward customers can also benefit from buying products as the retailer launches its very first charity rewards mission, it means that both the charity partners and customers benefit from purchasing the Tickled Pink range. While Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel! benefit from the product donations, customers will receive £1 in their cash pot for purchasing four products from the range.