Bag it up and help save Rotherham lives

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) shops have launched their biggest stock donation appeal, the Great British Bag-athon this month.

BHF shops are urging the people of Rotherham to join in and bag up their unwanted things and raise vital funds for the fight against heart disease.

The event will be officially launched next weekend by the Mayor and Mayoress of Rotherham, Cllr John Foden and Mrs Kath Foden, when they donate the first bag of items at Parkgate on the launch day.

The Great British Bag-athon is BHF shops’ biggest stock donation campaign, aiming to raise one million bags of unwanted items throughout September.

Between September 20 and 22, volunteers will be in Parkgate giving out  stock donation bags and asking shoppers to fill bags with unwanted clothes, books, homewares, toys, CDs, and DVDs, and take them to their nearest BHF shop.

Every seven minutes someone dies from a heart attack, so the more bags that are donated, the more money is raised for life-saving research, meaning more lives will be saved.  

After the event at the shopping centre has ended, filled bags can still be donated to the Great British Bag-athon at any BHF shop.

Denis Copeland, Manager of Parkgate Shopping, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Great British Bag-athon by holding a stock donation event.

“It’s the perfect opportunity to have a clear out and donate any unwanted items, raising vital funds to support those in our community who are living with heart disease.

“If you’re feeling competitive you can even take on a bag filling challenge. “Simply set a target and ask your friends, family, neighbours or work colleagues to pledge bags and bring them along to our event.

“You can even register online at bhf.org.uk/bagathon to find out more and see yourself in the national league table.”

More information can be found at bhf.org.uk/Bagathon.