Anonymous donor stuns charity shop

Margaret Armstrong, Alana Ferguson, Alison Hegarty (who took the newspaper parcel from the mystery man), Kate Dawes, Keith Gee, Colin Govier were shocked to receive the donation. Picture: Greg Macvean

But for one capital charity shop, it was a day to celebrate a selfless gesture after receiving an incredible anonymous donation.

Staff at the Cancer Research UK store in Tollcross were stunned when a man left over £2,500 wrapped in old newspaper with an instruction that he was to remain anonymous.

The man, who had never been seen in the shop prior to this visit, told the cashier not to open the package until he had left the store.

After departing, volunteer staff removed the newspaper wrap - made from a 2016 edition of the Metro - to reveal £2,540 in £20 notes.

Staff revealed the man has not been seen near the shop since and said they wanted to extend their thanks for his “truly amazing” generosity.

Manager Kylie Cooney, who was working behind the scenes in the shop at the time of the donation, said: “One of our volunteers was serving on the till and she said an older man came in with this parcel wrapped in old newspapers before telling her not to open it until he left the shop”

“Obviously we were a bit suspicious, but when we opened it and saw what was inside, we just couldn’t believe it, all of us who were there were just in shock.”

Assistant manager Kate Dawes added: “It was such a sweet gesture, I have been here for a few years and I have never seen anything like it.”

Staff posted their thanks to the anonymous hero on Twitter, writing: “A man came to our shop and handed us this parcel under strict promise not to open it until he had gone. What was inside? £2,540 in cash.”

It continued: “Kind sir, whoever you are, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” Other Cancer Research stores from around the country - including those in Glasgow and Alnwick - voiced their support for the anonymous donation on the site, also responding with their own messages of thanks..

The Tollcross shop, based on Home Street, is one of a dozen Cancer Research stores around the city, with staff admitting they were “delighted” their store was the one chosen.

And Kylie admitted the altruistic donation has changed her belief about the historically ‘unlucky’ date.

She said: “It is so bizarre to have happened on Friday the 13th too, it could have happened on any other day. We just thought it was an absolutely amazing thing to do.”

“The world is a really crazy place right now, so for something like this to happen is really fulfilling, it gives everyone that little lift.

Kylie added: “Hopefully, if he is out there, I know he wanted to remain anonymous, but I hope he understands just what a huge difference a donation like that is going to make to us.”

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