Why the four Pink Ladies from Donnington Wood all support Tickled Pink

Our Pink Ladies – Sheron Kitt, Debbie Watkins, Angela Moran and Lin Green from our Donnington Wood store – are so passionate about supporting our Tickled Pink charity campaign.

Tickled Pink, which raises money for Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. It's very personal to the Pink ladies as the four friends have all fought breast cancer at some point during their lives.

Admin colleague Debbie, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, said: "Tickled Pink is such as fantastic charity and raising awareness of breast cancer is so, so important.

"I always support Tickled Pink by buying the pink T-shirts and donating in store and every year my auntie, Anne Hammond, donates to Tickled Pink rather than buy Christmas cards for family and friends."

Debbie, who's been married to Martin for 34 years and who has two grown-up children, said the message promoted by Tickled Pink to check yourself regularly was "hugely important".

She said: "I found my lump during a regular check, so it's really important that you check yourself.

"I first thought that when I found my lump that it was nothing, but then you say to yourself that you need to go to the doctors and you need to get yourself checked out. And at the end of the day I'm glad I did as it turned out to be breast cancer. If I hadn't gone I might not be here.

"Happy birthday Tickled Pink and long may it keep going."

Checkouts colleague Sheron was diagnosed with breast cancer at Christmas 2018, and says she loves supporting Tickled Pink.

"I always donate money and buy and wear the special Tickled Pink tops each year. When you've had breast cancer and your best friend has passed away from it then it is something close to your heart. The campaign benefits everybody.

"Raising awareness is so important. My lump was picked up on a mammogram and it was caught in time, so It's vital that you go for your mammogram when you are asked to. Don't delay and put it off. Ladies who find lumps should not hesitate and go talk to their GP either."

Sheron, who's been married to Alan for 32 years and has three grown up children, said it was good to know that she could talk to other colleagues at her store who had battled breast cancer too.

She said: "It's nice to be able to talk to them privately if you have any worries and concerns. Asda is like a big family anyway so they are not just colleagues, they are like brothers and sisters and mums and dads."

June Walker, the store's community champion, says raising money for Tickled Pink is the highlight of her year. Since it was launched in 1996, Tickled Pink has raised £71 million nationally.

She said: "Raising money for Tickled Pink is very important to me as I have witnessed many family friends who have had breast cancer and through the years their treatment and support is getting better due to the research that is being carried out thanks to donations.

"It really is the highlight of my year putting on my pink T-shirt and raising money. Customers and colleagues won't pass me without putting a donation in my bucket!

"Raising awareness in store both to customers and colleague is vital in the fight against breast cancer. It could save a life. That''s why Tickled Pink is so important."