Generous Portsmouth Tesco shoppers make difference to Mayor's appeal

Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor David Fuller, joined by a small army of supporters, collected donations at Fratton’s Tesco superstore yesterday.

The fundraisers packed bags for families who in return popped change into donation buckets – all of which will go towards helping Help 4 Special Children, The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and the haematology unit at Queen Alexandra Hospital.

While the final amount collected hasn’t been totalled up yet, around £17,000 has been raised for the worthy causes since Cllr Fuller took up office this year.

Cllr Fuller thanked shoppers, Tesco store staff and his fundraising assistant, Marcella Payne, for all of their support.

Cllr Fuller said: ‘It was great fun.

‘The shoppers seemed to be in good spirits, and they were very welcoming and polite.

‘I was talking to people for most of the time and they were chucking money into the bucket, which was nice.

‘It’s early days in terms of how much we’ve raised, but people have been very, very generous.

‘There’s not a lot of money out there but people were happy donating.

‘A big thanks to Marcella for putting this together.’

Cllr Fuller also revealed that a group of fundraisers have also pledged to raise £2,000 for him to abseil down the Spinnaker Tower next year, a challenge he’s set to take on with other mayors from across the area.