Brave Kian opens new Doncaster charity store

Kian Critchley, who has lissencephaly, epilepsy and cerebral palsy, which means he can’t talk or walk and needs to be fed directly into his stomach by a tube, was one of the first children to use the Sheffield-based hospice.

The Intake youngster was joined by mum Val and dad Tony to officially open the hospice shop, which moved location from its original Scot Lane site to Unit 7 Kings Arcade in St Sepulchre Gate.

Tony said: “We are honoured that Kian has been asked to open the new Bluebell Wood shop in Doncaster.

“These shops are one of the lifelines which allow the hospice to support families like ours.

“We often pop in to thank the staff, volunteers, and the people who shop in there.

“Their contributions are invaluable to us and to all the families that need the help of Bluebell Wood.”

The new Doncaster shop will stock good quality second-hand items including toys and clothes as well as new items.

Shop manager Karen Williams said: “We are so pleased to announce that our new shop is open.

“All funds raised from our shops go towards the vital work we do at the hospice and in the community supporting children and their families.

“We’ve been a part of the community in Doncaster for over 10 years and look forward to welcoming shoppers to our new location on King’s Arcade.”

Bluebell Wood is currently looking for volunteers to help sort, size and tag donations.

Volunteers will also be tasked with helping to serve customers and operate the till during the shop’s opening hours, which will be from 9am to 4pm every Monday to Saturday.

Anyone with a few spare hours each week who are interested in a voluntary position is asked to drop into the Doncaster shop for an application form.

The hospice opened in 2008 in North Anston and supports around 250 families.

It costs more than £4 million a year to stay open and much of this money is provided through public donations.