Charity queen Kath calls it a day

After 17 years fundraising for cancer patients in the Black Country, Kath Partridge is to take a well-earned retirement from charitable work.

The Tipton pensioner, who still works as a fitness instructor by day, set up her Memories Cancer Fund following the death of her sister Glenys Clarke aged 34 from bowel cancer almost 18 years ago.

She began by holding fundraising events but with the help of her other sisters Betty Rowley and Susan Smith set up a shop in Union Street, Tipton, 14 years ago to help raise cash for the fund to buy equipment to help cancer sufferers.

The lease of the building is now up and Kath says she has decided it is time to bring things to a close – in part, she says, because of the downturn in trade in Tipton.

To mark the closure and thank all those who have helped her over the years the Burberry Grange resident is to host a stock sale at Brook Street Community Centre in Tipton on Saturday when shoppers will be able to get their hands on clothes and homeware at knockdown prices.

Kath, who is in her 60s, also lost another sister Pat Glass to a brain tumour when she was 16. Kath said today: “The fund will not be forgotten as the equipment will still be in use for people.” Saturday’s sale starts at 9.30am and runs until 12.30pm. The shop is expected to fully close by the start of August.

Any leftover stock will be distributed to charity shops and the fund’s equipment is being donated to nursing homes in the area.