Throughout June we're donating 10% from the sale of our Clyde the Caterpillar Cake and Frieda The Free From Caterpillar Cake to our Tickled Pink charity partners Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel!.
The initiative is part of our celebrations for Tickled Pink's 25th anniversary and follows a suggestion from Aldi for supermarket caterpillar cakes to come together to support cancer charities.
It's a cause that's close to the heart of our Chesser store's community champion Gary Anderson, who stepped in to continue the fantastic work his mum Linda did supporting Tickled Pink after she died of cancer in 2015.
Linda worked for Asda for 25 years and won awards for her fantastic charity efforts during her time as community champion at the store in Edinburgh and was much-loved by colleagues and customers. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, had a breast removed and recovered well until the cancer returned and spread. She was 59 when she died.
Gary, who has worked at the store for nearly 20 years, took over from Linda while she was being treated and over the last six years has kept up her good work by supporting a series of events to raise awareness and money for Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel!.
He's delighted to see sales of our popular caterpillar cakes supporting such a good cause.
Gary, who's 35, said: "It's a great thing to do and Tickled Pink is such a good cause. The caterpillar cakes were in the news a few months ago, and I think it’s a great idea to use the cakes as a force for good.
"It combines two of my favourite things – a nice cake and raising money for Tickled Pink – so what's not to like?"
To support the breast cancer charities, customers can pick between the rich and chocolate-filled Clyde the Caterpillar Cake which serves 12 or his equally delicious gluten-free sister Frieda, the Free-From Caterpillar Cake, which serves 10.
Jo Warner, Senior Director for Community at Asda, said: “We jumped at the chance to take part in the #CaterpillarsForCancer movement, supporting Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel! through our Tickled Pink campaign – which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
"We’re proud of our inclusive range of caterpillar cakes – and while Clyde is the perfect party centrepiece, ‘free from’ families don’t need to miss out on the fun as Frieda, our gluten-free caterpillar, is also priced at a value-for-money £5.92.
"Great value, inclusive cake that raises money for breast cancer charities – that’s what we call a win-win!”
Speaking on behalf of Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel!, Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive of Breast Cancer Now, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our longstanding Tickled Pink partnership with Asda and are delighted to welcome Clyde and Frieda on board through Asda's commitment to #CaterpillarsForCancer.
“Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women the UK, and the impacts of the pandemic mean that people affected by this devastating disease need us now more than ever. As such we’re hugely grateful to Asda, its colleagues and customers for their unwavering support, creative fundraising efforts and dedication to raising awareness of breast cancer – they are helping to provide support for today and hope for the future for anyone affected by breast cancer.”
Gary says customers are always generous in their support for our breast cancer charity campaign – and that he loves organising fun activities to raise awareness and money for Tickled Pink, which funds world-class research, life-changing support services and outreach work to champion the importance of regularly checking your boobs.
He said: "Most people will have been touched by cancer in some way or form. They might be related to someone who's had breast cancer or know someone going through treatment know, so lots of are generous and put their hand in their pocket whenever we hold events or run activities for Tickled Pink.
"My mum always did a lot for people so she was loved not just in the store but in the local community as well. She always wanted to help others. She loved to have a laugh at the same time, as she thought it was better to be raising money for an important cause like this by having fun.
"I try to follow that approach and always try to raise as much money as possible for Tickled Pink while making sure we have lots of fun while we're doing it."
