Year of fundraising for Breast Cancer Haven topped up by reindeer visits at Garsons of Titchfield

REINDEER at an award-winning garden centre helped to bring in thousands of pounds in support of a cancer charity.
Belinda Dickins
By Belinda Dickins
Published 18th Jan 2020, 06:00 BST
Updated 19th Jan 2020, 15:23 BST
Sarah Woods from Breast Cancer Haven pictured with one of the Garsons reindeer which helped raise funds for the charitySarah Woods from Breast Cancer Haven pictured with one of the Garsons reindeer which helped raise funds for the charity
Sarah Woods from Breast Cancer Haven pictured with one of the Garsons reindeer which helped raise funds for the charity

Garden centre and farm shop Garsons of Titchfield managed to raise £6,914.60 for Breast Cancer Haven, which was its charity of the year for 2019, as well as a further £2,094.43 for donating ex-stock which was sold by the charity.

The past 12 months have seen a brave team of Garsons staff completing a sponsored sky-dive over Hampshire, a fundraising tea party and the creation of a herb garden at the charity’s Titchfield centre.

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More than 45 per cent of the total figure was brought in by the annual appearance of two live reindeer in the run-up to Christmas.

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Visitors were able to visit the animals for free but were encouraged to give any spare change into collection buckets near their enclosure.

Funds were further boosted by charity boxes at the tills and donations made at the garden centre’s popular late-night festive shopping events.

Sarah Woods, corporate fundraising officer for Breast Cancer Haven Wessex, said: ‘It has been a wonderful year of fundraising with Garsons, the staff have been so warm and friendly and proactive in getting involved from participating in our sky dive to taking part in our Blossom Fashion Show as a fashion retailer, plus it was a delight to meet their reindeer.

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‘The money raised will help us to support even more people affected by breast cancer going through a really tough time.’

The charity’s Titchfield centre has supported more than 1,200 people affected by the disease since opening in 2015.

Breast Cancer Haven Wessex is one of just five centres throughout the UK. With its team of cancer-trained therapists and volunteers, it hosts classes and workshops, offering a range of free therapies from emotional counselling to hypnotherapy and scar tissue massage.

Rachael Rogers, Garsons’ charity coordinator, said: ‘It has been a privilege to support this amazing charity right on our doorstep and a huge thank you to our customers for being so generous and helping us achieve this fantastic total.’

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