Remembering lost friends – and raising cash for their chosen charities

Two Tesco Ely employees are preparing for a fundraising walk to keep “the memory alive” of two long-serving colleagues who tragically died within a day of each other.
On June 26 Shirley Hammond and Mel Starling will lead a scenic walk from Tesco supermarket along the Ely riverside and back to raise cash for Arthur Rank Hospice and the Alzheimer’s Society, together with family members, friends, colleagues and customers.
They hope other people will join them on their walk or sponsor these two worthy causes, the chosen charities of Angie Squires and Marlene Emery.
Back in January, Tesco staff, their families and friends – and over 30 days – took part in a charity walk from Downham Market to the Animal Rescue Centre in Denver to raise money for Arthur Rank Hospice and the animal shelter.
Soham grandmother Angie – a prolific fundraiser, who had raised £1000 for Macmillan Cancer Support – managed to make the start of the event, despite battling terminal cancer.
Angie, who was being cared for by Arthur Rank Hospice, died the following Sunday, on January 24, aged just 54.

The day before March grandmother Marlene had suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 61. Marlene’s husband Malcolm, who had Alzheimer’s disease, had also recently passed away.
Shirley said: “All in all it’s been quite a sad time for colleagues at Tesco. Angie was on the till with us and Marlene worked in the garage. Both were long serving colleagues.”
On their fundraising page, Shirley and Mel say: “Marlene and Angie were wonderful ladies, full of life, and taken from us at a young age, and we would like to keep them both in our thoughts as we do the walk and raise money for their two chosen charities, Alzheimer’s and Arthur Rank Hospice.”
The two friends hope to beat the £620 they raised in January.
“If this one is a success too we hope to do this every year for them both to keep their memory alive.”
The memorial walk will take place at 10.30am outside Tesco. A suggested donation for those wishing to take part is £1.50 or £5 per family. The walk will end at Tesco, where there will be a tombola, games and other activities to raise money for Arthur Rank Hospice and the Alzheimer’s Society.
You can sponsor Shirley and Mel at https://www.justgiving.com/Shirley-Hammond1 (Arthur Rank Hospice) or https://www.justgiving.com/Shirley-Hammond (Alzheimer’s Society).