Stephanie and Vicki support mum's efforts to raise awareness of rare syndrome

Colleagues at our Bromsgrove store are getting behind the fundraising efforts of 11-year-old Millie Bedford who has a rare genetic condition which affects fewer than 1,000 people in the world.

Millie, who is also autistic, has Wiedemann-Steiner Syndrome and recently completed a three-mile sponsored walk to raise money for awareness and research charity The Wiedemann-Steiner Syndrome Foundation.

And colleagues at our store – led by community champion Stephanie Yarrington and service section leader Vicki Evans – have formed such a special relationship with her that they held a fundraising raffle to show their support and gave Millie a special Asda T-shirt, name badge and lanyard, which she loves.

Stephanie said: "Millie is such a friendly little girl and Vicki and I have developed a special bond with her. Whenever she comes in we high five her. She sees Asda as her happy place.

"When we gave her the Asda uniform with her name badge she was just stuck for words. She was so made up and just beaming so much.

"Vicki and I met her at the end of her walk and Millie drew the raffle for a giant teddy bear. She wanted the bear herself, bless her, so we got her one too!"

Millie, who has a three-year-old brother Reggie and sister Maisie, who's 12, has been shopping at our store with her mum Charlotte since she was born.

"Asda Bromsgrove is my local store," said Charlotte. " I'm in most days and Millie has been in all her life. Because of her autism and the way she is, she's always asked the staff what their names are. She then got to the point where she could read the badges and she just loves saying hello to them all.

"Everyone is really friendly at the store and Millie is one of those kids that you're drawn to anyway. She is just very special and such a people person, and everyone loves her.

"Every time we go in they make such an effort and nothing is too much for them. They made my Millie feel very special."

Recently, Millie had decompression surgery for Chiari Malformation where the brain descends into the spinal cord and a week later she got fluid on the brain and had to have an emergency procedure done.

Charlotte said: "The store got her a T-shirt, lanyard and name badge and she was over the moon. She wears it with pride, she does.

"I'd really like to thank everyone at the store for all their support. It was quite emotional for a company like Asda to get in touch with us offering help."

To read more about Millie's fundraising visit https://www.facebook.com/MillieWSS