A mystery benefactor has donated hundreds of designer handbags to a charity shop. Staff at the Cancer Research UK shop on Water Lane say they have raised more than £8,000 with sales of the bags.
Shop manager Sandra Daniels said that while staff knew who has been donating the bags, but she had asked for her identity to be kept a secret. She said that the woman recently donated 55 bags to the shop bringing the total number that she has given them 400.
Brands included Mulberry, Chloe and Radley with the most popular bags on sale for £150, despite a retail price-tag of £800.
Sandra said: “I am just absolutely ecstatic, because she is such a lovely lady. She collects the handbags but doesn’t want to sell them on.
“She very kindly donates to the shop, because she wants to support a good cause.”
Customers have been quick to loosen the purse strings and only a small number of bags remain on the shelves.
Sandra said: “As soon as we started selling, we had a queue of customers outside the door.
“I have regular customers who come in, but I have also had people from across the country on the phone saying they will drive down.”
Sandra added: “We want the best prices for the charity, but the customers are paying for good quality because the bags are in perfect condition.”
The charity shop is closing in a couple of weeks for a refit, but is set to re-open on October 11 with a ‘designer day’.
Jane Bullock, North West Cancer Research spokesperson, added: “We are incredibly grateful to his lady for her generous donations over the years.
“Cancer Research UK receives no government funding. It relies on the generosity of people to enable the charity to carry on with life-saving research.”
