Asda Antrim brings community together for Tickled Pink afternoon tea fundraiser

Asda Community and Customer Champion Ashley with ladies from the Antrim Community Support Hub

Women from Antrim Community Support Hub have helped raise £116 for breast cancer charities during a special afternoon tea at Asda Antrim.

The gathering brought members of the local group together for an afternoon of conversation, refreshments and fundraising as Asda marks 30 years of its Tickled Pink campaign.

Friendship and fundraising

Tickled Pink raises money to support the breast cancer awareness, education and support services provided by Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel!.

Ashley Ritchie, Community and Customer Champion at Asda Antrim, said:

“One of the best parts of my job is welcoming local groups like the Antrim Community Support Hub, and it was a wonderful opportunity to support them as an organisation while also fundraising for Tickled Pink and raising awareness of breast cancer.”

Rachel Bownes, Wellbeing Manager at Antrim Community Support Hub, said the event was particularly meaningful because of the number of people whose lives have been touched by cancer.

“Our ladies from Antrim Community Support Hub had a really lovely afternoon and enjoyed the opportunity to get together, celebrate and support such a worthwhile cause,” she said.

“Fundraising for Tickled Pink is particularly meaningful to our group, as cancer is something that affects so many of us, whether through our own experiences or those of our families and friends.

“For many of the women, it was also simply a lovely opportunity to spend time together, have some fun and feel part of something positive within our local community.

“We would like to thank Ashley and everyone at Asda Antrim for their kindness and hospitality and for giving our group the opportunity to be involved in such a lovely event.”

Campaign marks 30 years

Asda Antrim Community and Customer Champion Ashley Ritchie

Customers at the Antrim store have also been supporting the anniversary campaign by purchasing Tickled Pink merchandise, including cherry and butterfly keyrings, bag charms, stationery and beauty products.

Ashley said the fundraising items had attracted a particularly strong response from shoppers.

“It’s one of the most popular fundraising activities we’ve ever done! Some days, customers have been queueing before we’ve even had time to set up,” she said.

“It’s fantastic to see both our customers and colleagues getting involved in the fundraising, and to see how it’s sparked conversations about the amazing work Tickled Pink and its charity partners do.”

The £116 raised at the afternoon tea will contribute to a campaign which has spent three decades funding breast cancer awareness, education and support — while the event itself gave local women an opportunity to strengthen friendships and take part in something positive for the wider community.