We also have over 8,000 new trees and plants being added to our much-loved planters in the malls. The planters help to create a green and airy atmosphere in the shopping centre producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide and many guests comment on how much they enjoy the plants!
Supershoes give children with cancer an opportunity to receive a pair of very special customised shoes created by one of over 300 volunteering ‘Super Artists’ and support staff. The shoes see magnificent benefits to children as they are designed to make the wearer feel special and strong; giving younger children in particular a sense of super-power when they wear their Supershoes.
The charity, which was founded almost 5 years ago, by Sarah and Ken White now receives over 30 referrals a week for requests for shoes. Having recently sent out its 2500th pair of customised Supershoes the charity is now looking forward to its next chapter through its exclusive charity partnership with centre:mk.
Sarah White, Founder of the Milton Keynes-based charity said: “This is a tremendous opportunity to raise awareness of childhood cancer, giving a voice to the 11 children diagnosed every day in the UK, whilst highlighting the work our charity does to empower these young people. We have a goal of raising over £10,000 for our charity through the partnership with centre:mk this year which would enable us to produce 200 pairs of shoes.”
Kevin Duffy Centre Director said of the new partnership; “Supershoes is a very unique and worthy charity which we truly believe our guests will connect with. We know just how important it is for children to feel empowered and strengthened during cancer treatment and the shoes this charity produce do just that in an incredibly unique way - which is why we’re impassioned about supporting them to meet their target.”
centre:mk will be selling ‘reindeer glasses’ this Christmas, of which 50p from every pair sold goes directly to Supershoes. The glasses turn every point of light into a reindeer face and can be purchased from Guest Services as well as the Grotto in Middleton Hall.
Supershoes was founded almost 5 years ago, by Sarah and Ken White (MD Frosts Landscape Construction.) The charity now receives over 30 referrals a week for requests for shoes. With over 300 Super Artists, and a team of support staff, Supershoes is volunteer led and has, at the beginning of this year, sent out its 2500th pair of customised Supershoes. Future plans to empower children include hospital art workshops and local “Arty Parties” for families of children with cancer.
What does a pair of Supershoes bring to a sick child?
- They encourage mobility
- They promote wellbeing
- They remind the child of who they are and the things that they love
- They restore their sense of identity
- They make the child feel special and strong. Younger children feel as though they have superpowers when they wear their Supershoes.
- Every single day in the UK, nearly 11 children are diagnosed with cancer. Our aim is to continue to support families dealing with diagnosis and treatment and to raise awareness of childhood cancer nationwide.
