A bereaved couple, Gary and Kelly Munden, whose daughter, Annabel, would have celebrated her tenth birthday next week have spoken of their pride after attending the opening of EACH’s new charity shop in March.

Kelly cut the ribbon at the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) store at Meadowlands this morning, with the help of Annabel’s friend, Freya Vine, aged 10. Poignantly, Freya held Annabel’s special bear that holds her ashes.

Annabel had a genetic condition called Cockayne Syndrome or CS – a rare and life-threatening condition passed on through a faulty gene from both parents – and died in hospital in June 2020. She was just five.

Kelly and husband Gary, from Terrington St Clement, were transferred to The Nook – EACH’s hospice just outside Norwich – so they could spend precious time together before returning home. They then received bereavement support, which they described as “invaluable”.

After the opening earlier today, Gary said: “We were so grateful to be asked and it was a definite ‘yes’ straightaway.

“It was a proud moment and I don’t know what we’d have done, or how we’d have coped, without support from EACH.

“As a charity, it saved us and we always do anything we can to help or raise funds.

“In terms of the new shop, the timing is perfect - mainly because Annabel would have been ten next Thursday.

“She was very well-known here as we have lots of family and friends in March. It’s my home town.”

Annabel had a number of complex care needs. She was tube-fed and suffered from severe reflux, for which she needed medication three times a day.

She had hearing loss in both ears, cataracts in both eyes and recurring chest infections, which required regular antibiotics, steroids and inhalers.

These became more and more frequent, needing daily, sometimes hourly medication and a home suction machine to keep Annabel comfortable.

“Without having counselling, I think we probably would have sat in our house and locked the world away,” said Kelly, who raised £3,200 after completing the Recipharm Grand East Anglian Run (GEAR), in King’s Lynn, in May.

“We’d never have done anything again so were thankful to have the help and support of our counsellor. She was invaluable.”

As well as being a community shop, EACH’s new retail hub, which will be open seven days a week, will sell furniture and be a distribution centre for its stores in Whittlesey, St Ives, Huntingdon, Ely, Soham and Downham Market.

“What an exciting day – a milestone moment that we’ve been looking forward to for a very long time,” said Jeni Baines, the charity’s Shop and Cluster Manager for the North West.

“This is going to be something of a super shop, combining different elements of our retail operation.

“It’s going to be an all-in-one donation station, community and furniture shop, as well as being a much-needed regional distribution hub.”

Jeni and the team would love to hear from would-be volunteers interested in getting involved and showing their support.

Volunteers can help in various ways, including serving customers, sorting and pricing donations, dressing windows and steaming clothes.

Other roles include being a driver’s mate, heading out to distribute goods, including collecting and dropping off furniture.

To find out more, pop in for a chat or email Jeni.Baines@each.org.uk