Staff at the new Tesco Express opening on Newcastle Quayside are giving their support to local sick kids with a special donation to Radio Lollipop Newcastle.
Store manager Richard Codlin and his staff wanted to show their support for the charity and the volunteers whose dedication makes Radio Lollipop such a success, so to mark the launch of the store, Tesco Express are donating £500 to the charity.
Chair of Radio Lollipop Newcastle Sheila Brown opened the store on Friday 17th November when she was presented with a cheque for £500 from the staff at the store. She cut the ribbon to declare the Tesco Express in Trinity Gardens officially open at 10.30am that morning.
Richard said; The work that Sheila and her fellow volunteers do to support and entertain the children on the wards at Newcastles Royal Victoria Infirmary is fantastic and we are delighted to be able to offer our support to Radio Lollipop. We would like to thank Sheila for agreeing to join us on Friday to officially open our new store.
Radio is only a small part of the work that is carried out by the dedicated team of volunteers at Radio Lollipop Newcastle. The volunteers provide play, comfort and care to sick children, visiting five childrens wards at Newcastles Royal Victoria Infirmary. Ward visits by the 15 volunteers currently take place two nights a week and involve games, crafts and prizes for the children.
At present, the radio is broadcast in only one of the childrens wards, however Sheila and her team are working to get Radio Lollipop connected to every childs bedside in the hospital.
Sheila Brown, Chair of Radio Lollipop Newcastle said; We would like to thank Tesco for this generous donation, it costs around £6000 a year to keep a Radio Lollipop station running and we are grateful to everyone who has, and continues to, support us.
Sheila added; All the help and support we receive is essential to help us continue to provide our services to the children in the hospital, and new volunteers and fundraising events are welcomed and supported by the charity.
Tesco Express store manager Richard Codlin said; Myself and the staff are looking forward to welcoming our customers into the store and hope that Tesco Express will become a key part of the local community of residents and workers.
The new store will open from 6am to 11pm seven days a week.