A charity shop in Caerphilly is looking for more volunteers after its runaway success in attracting customers.
The success of the Cancer Research Wales shop in Castle Court Shopping Centre has seen it raise more than £30,000 since opening its doors in October last year.
However the shop needs more volunteers due to the huge number of customers through its door.
Karen O’Brien started volunteering at the Caerphilly shop in December after speaking to Cancer Research Wales charity director Maggie Hughes.
Karen, 49, said: “I first met Maggie in 2004 when I started to organise fundraisers for cancer research, including a concert in Caerphilly for my friend Sandra who unfortunately died of cancer aged just 50.
“That particular event raised £900. Maggie contacted to ask if I would consider becoming a volunteer at the new shop in Caerphilly. As I’m not working at the moment I thought that it would be a nice thing to do.”
Karen volunteered three to four days a week before Christmas when the shop saw record numbers of customers, and now she helps out two days a week.
Speaking of her decision to support the charity, Karen said: “I lost my Nan at a young age from cancer, and more recently my Mum, Pam who died from lung cancer nearly three years ago.
“I must help in any way to eradicate this terrible disease which claims so many lives unnecessarily. By volunteering at the Cancer Research Wales shop I feel that I am helping in the cause.
“I have been affected first hand by cancer, and I have seen the difference that Cancer Research Wales and the Velindre Hospital can make. Helping in the shop is the least I can do.
“I get to meet lots of people every day, and it’s surprising how generous people are; I’m always ringing sales into the till and accepting donations.”
Stuart Barry, the charity’s commercial fundraising manager, said: “We have currently ten active volunteers within the shop, plus many more supporters who volunteer for our events and bucket collections within the Caerphilly area, but we are always on the lookout for more.
“The Caerphilly shop has been such a success and the volunteers do such a good job.
“We rely on people like Karen who give up their time to help us raise money. We are always looking for volunteers to spend just a couple of hours a week in our shop, which as Karen said, has been really busy.
“With continued support for our fundraising, we can carry on fighting cancer and funding vital research projects.”
If you are interested in volunteering at the shop you can call in for an application form or call 029 2031 6976.