Rishton pensioner gives up charity shop (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Rishton pensioner gives up charity shop

8:00am Monday 17th September 2012 in News

AN ‘INSPIRATIONAL’ charity fundraiser has vowed to carry on in spite of having to close her charity shop after seven years.

Kathleen Ramsden’s Rishton shop is considered an institution in the town, but she has now closed her doors for good.

The 78-year-old has single-handedly raised cash for third world charities, helping AIDS victims and lepers, as well as Blackburn homeless charity, Night Safe, from behind the counter.

The former Maundy Grange volunteer has helped the needy for years, but said she has been forced to close, in spite of extra volunteers offering to help keep the shop open.

The grandmother-of-six said she simply wasn’t getting enough donations or making enough sales to cover costs.

However Kathleen is still not ready to quit volunteering and says she will carry on by helping out at another charity shop.

Admirers describe her as ‘unstoppable’.

Maundy Grange founder Dorothy McGregor said she had done countless good turns at the homeless charity before setting up on her shop.

She said: “She doesn’t look her age and doesn’t act it either!

“She is completely amazing and over the years she has helped to change countless people’s lives. She has been a very busy and dedicated mum during that time, but she felt compelled to help others too.

“I am sure she will go on doing so. She is inspirational”

Kathleen said she would carry on supporting charities by volunteering elsewhere.

She said: “The numbers are just not adding up at the end of the day, and it’s time to close the doors.

“Everyone has been lovely in trying to help. The landlord of the shop and his wife have tried to help, but it just isn’t realistic and I have given them back the keys. I even had offers of volunteers, but nobody is coming into the shop.

“There is always someone to help somewhere else and I can be of use in another charity shop. I just want to thank everyone who offered their help when I needed it. A big thank you goes especially to the people of Rishton for supporting me during my time at the shop.”