[S]taff at the North West Air Ambulance Charity’s Kendal store have uncovered wedding vows hidden away inside a recently donated shoebox, giving new meaning to “something borrowed”. The charity is now on a mission to spread the word after vowing to reunite them with the bride and groom.
The vows, addressed to Christine from her besotted groom Anthony, share a heartfelt declaration of her “loving and giving” spirit, looking ahead to a long and happy life as they “take on the world” together. The vows and shoes both appear to have been cherished over the years, before being donated to the store this spring.
Amanda Morris, the Kendal store manager, made the lovely discovery: “I came across the vows when I was looking for items to pop in a wedding-themed display. They’re so personal and have obviously been cared for throughout the years, it would be a shame to think they aren’t reunited with the couple or their family. I’m sure someone somewhere will be missing them. We’re all very keen to find the groom and bride and see how their story unfolded together ever since.”
“This is one of the reasons I love working at the store – we come across interesting finds all the time, although vows are definitely a first for us!”
The Kendal North West Air Ambulance Charity store is one of ten retail shops at the charity and has been open for just under a year, offering new and used furniture, bric-a-brac, books and clothing – and now wedding vows. The store has provided a vital source of income for the lifesaving charity, which does not receive government or National Lottery funding. Instead it is reliant on donations from supporters and fundraisers to keep its helicopters and crew flying 365 days a year.
Paul Freethy, Senior Retail Operations Manager at the North West Air Ambulance Charity, said: “As a charity, we are always incredibly grateful to receive donations from our generous community. However, in this case, for something that is clearly so sentimental, we really want to return the vows to their rightful owner – please get in touch if you donated the shoes and vows.”
If you’re Anthony, Christine, the person who made the donation or think you might know who the mystery groom is, please call the charity on 0800 587 4570.
