Pop-up shop to save dad's life

Shopping centre bosses in Sutton have donated an empty unit to a family for three days to sell wedding dresses to help save the life of a dad battling cancer.

Dad-of-one Jack Sanders, was diagnosed with a brain tumour five years ago.

The 35-year-old’s family are now trying to raise £30,000 for treatment abroad, after raising £40,000 for him already.

Idlewells shopping centre in Sutton has now offered the family a shop for three days to help sell 83 new or ex-display donated wedding dresses, which will be sold for just £199 each.

Jack, of Abbotts Croft, Mansfield, has visited Germany twice to receive treatment so far but requires more treatment.

Sandra Marshall, aged 65, Jack’s mum, of Chesterfield Road North, Mansfield, is selling the dresses.

She said she wanted Jack to see his 10-year-old daughter Ellie grow up.

She said: “My son is my sunshine and my reason from getting up in the morning.

“We have 83 wedding dresses – there are an awful lot.

“The more people who know we will be in the shop the more dresses we can hopefully sell. We have some stunning gowns which we are selling so Jack can have more treatment in Germany.”

Sandra said Jack does not appear to be getting any worse and believes something is going right with his treatment.

She said: “People are being very kind. You don’t think this kind of thing will happen to you, when it does it smacks you in the face.”

Sandra contacted Chloe O’Donnell, Idlewells manager, last month, to find somewhere to sell the gowns.

Chloe said:“Having a daughter myself, I can only begin to imagine the devastation of discovering that you may not be around to see your child grow up.

“I was determined to try to help and thankfully Ellandi, the centre owners, granted us permission to use one of the empty units.”

The dresses will be in a unit next to Argos on Saturday, February 10, 9am-5pm, Sunday, 10am-4pm and Monday, 9am-4pm.