7 September 2005

St Giles Hospice is appealing for newly-weds to donate their wedding dresses to help the charity keep up with demand for high-quality second-hand outfits at its fundraising bridal room.

The bridal room at the hospice’s Swadlincote shop is proving hugely popular with brides on a budget, who appreciate the opportunity to pick up a fabulous gown for a bargain price.

St Giles Hospice Shops General Manager Lynwen Truesdale says: “The demand for wedding dresses has been such that we now need to replenish our stocks.

' With the summer wedding season coming to a close we are asking newly married women to donate their dresses.

' Their generosity will not only make another lucky lady’s dream day, but will also help St Giles continue its work caring for local people living with cancer and other serious illnesses.

' Of course, there will also be women who celebrated tying the knot some time ago and whose wedding outfit is gathering dust at the back of a wardrobe – we would be extremely grateful for their dresses too.”


Appointments to browse the range of high-quality gowns and outfits for the mother of the bride, can be made by calling 01283 551591.

Donations of wedding dresses, and any other high-quality unwanted items, can be made at any of the thirteen hospice shops across the region, the details of which can be found by clicking here.

St Giles Hospice Shops play a vital role in funding the care offered by the hospice, a registered charity based in Whittington, near Lichfield.

The thirteen shops are based in major towns throughout the hospice's patient catchment area, which ranges from Ashby de la Zouch and Atherstone in the east, to Cannock and Walsall in the west – and from Burton and Uttoxeter in the north, to Sutton Coldfield and Coleshill in the south.

In addition, a clothing warehouse for donations and a furniture warehouse offering a wide range of high-quality furniture at value-for-money prices, are based in Shenstone, near Lichfield. A selection of furniture is also available at the Cannock and Wylde Green shops.

Last year the hospice shops raised a total of £543,000 – and every penny is desperately needed by St Giles. The charity spends over £5million caring for local people with cancer and other serious illnesses, as well as providing support for their families and carers, and relies heavily on the support of local people to enable its valuable work to continue.