Dancing in memory of Geraldine

Dancing in memory of Geraldine

THOUSANDS of Downpatrick shoppers have missed the bubbly personality of one of Asda’s longest serving members of staff since she lost her fight with cancer last summer.

Geraldine Ghosh was well known throughout the community as an outgoing welcoming presence in the store, and was very often in the lobby in full fancy dress with her friend Carol Campbell, urging customers to support one of a range of charities.

Her death at the age of just 55 shocked the many people who had enjoyed a bit of banter with Geraldine over the years.

Her friends, former colleagues and family are now planning to pay tribute to Geraldine, while raising money for one of the charities close to her heart, Tickled Pink, in a Strictly Come Dancing fundraiser at Downpatrick Cricket Club in May.

Carol will team up with Geraldine’s son Adrian in memory of his mum on the dance floor.

Although Carol says she will find the event emotional, she said the dancers were also having a lot of fun getting ready for the night.

With practices three times per week, she said the competition was already hotting up.

“It is lovely that this event will be held in her memory,” she said.

“The funny thing is that if Geraldine was here now and we were doing a Strictly event she would probably have insisted on dancing with me, even if it meant dressing up as a man.

“We did so many things together, a lot of it in fancy dress, so this would have been right up her street.”

Carol and Adrian will compete against nine other couples, made up of Asda employees, in the hope of raising funds for the Tickled Pink campaign which raised money for breast cancer care.

Asda Community Life in Downpatrick has already raised £8,000 for the campaign and is hoping the May 3 event will add significantly to that amount.

Emma McKee, who is Asda’s community life champion, said she hoped people would come along to the event to support the charity while remembering Geraldine, who she described as a “tireless fundraiser in her own right.”

“The night promises to be great craic with a host of familiar faces, who would not normally be known for their dancing skills, taking to the dance floor,” she said.

“Don’t miss this opportunity to watch the couples swap checkouts for fancy frocks and sequins.”

Doors on the night will open at 8pm with pre-event entertainment by Just Adam.

Tickets are £10 and are selling fast. The few remaining tickets are available from Asda in Downpatrick.