Two knee replacements can't deter Pat from rowing in support of Tickled Pink

Even after having two knee replacements, our 82-year-old checkouts colleague Pat Lister was determined to get on a rowing machine to raise money for our Tickled Pink breast cancer charity campaign.

Pat, who works at our Goole supermarket, managed to row 300 metres of the store's 36-kilometer challenge which has so far raised more than £1,500.

The grandmother-of-three said: "I felt I could have carried on be honest, but we thought it best that I just did what I did, what with my knees. I was proud of myself and Tickled Pink is such a worthwhile cause. I thought to myself if my colleagues can do it, I can do it too! These sort of things keep me going."

Pat's worked on the same store site for more than 22 years – 10 years with Asda and 12 years with Netto. For 17 years before that she worked as a conductor on double decker buses regularly going to Hull, Bridlington and Scarborough.

She said: "I love my job. It's just a lovely place to work. I think it's the colleagues and managers that keep me going to be honest. They are so good. It's a joy to work here.

"When it was Covid I had to take time off, then I had my knees done – but I was determined to come back.

"I think I'm a grandma to everyone here; I think the next one down to me is 60!"

Pat, who sadly lost her husband Donald four years ago after being married for 43 years, said: "The customers here are lovely and so friendly too. I love having a chat to them. If they have any worries they tell me all about them.

"There are a lot of people on their own and I think some just come in for a chat. When you think about it we could be the only people they see in a day."

Customers like regular shopper Julie Hill have nothing but praise for Pat.

Julie said: "I've been a customer for a number of years and I love Asda Goole. Seeing Pat on the till with her big smile and her caring nature to ask how I'm doing makes doing my shopping less of a task and more of a social call. Asda Goole isn't Asda Goole without the colleagues and Pat!"

John Sample added: "Ah, Pat the lovely lady on the checkouts. My wife and I are regulars on Friday and we purposely try to get into store before Pat goes home as we love to have a natter and a joke."

And regular customers Ann and Brian Clarkson said: "We've known Pat for a lot of years. She is the loveliest lady you can meet. With her smile and her quick wit you always have a laugh when you go through her checkout."

Service section leader Debbie McGeever said Pat was an inspiration to everyone in the store.

She said: "Pat is just brilliant. She will do owt for anybody. She has had two knee replacements and still walks to and from work whatever the weather.

"With us being a small store, 90 per cent of our customers are regulars and they love to be served by Pat. When she was off with her last knee replacement we had lots of customers asking how she was. They all missed her. She's like a permanent fixture here, she comes with the furniture.

"She is an absolute fantastic credit to the company. I've known her ten years and I've never heard a bad word said about her. There's nothing not to like about her. She's just a lovely lady. We're not just colleagues here, we are family and Pat sits right at the top of the tree!"

"She's quite well to do too and takes care of her appearance but she's a typical Yorkshire lass, so down to earth; she says it how it is.

"When we all took turns to have a go on the rowing machine to raise money for Tickled Pink, Pat had to have a go to – even after her two knee replacements. She is absolutely amazing.

"In total we rowed 36km – the distance from our store to the next nearest Asda at Scunthorpe. So far we have raised £1,500 and there's more money coming in."

Characters from Star Wars, including Stormtroopers and Chewbacca, even made an appearance during their fundraising to show their support.

Store manager Mark Walker said: "Pat is a lovely woman who shows dedication to her job on service. She has a warm, happy smile for every customer. She is an asset to Asda Goole."

Tickled Pink, which raises money and awareness for Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel!, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The campaign has raised £71 millions over the last quarter of a century and our colleagues are hosting a range of events for it in our stores between now and the end of October.