Asda colleague thanks co-workers for charity fundraising in late sister’s memory
An Asda colleague who worked in the same store as her late sister for more than 20 years has thanked colleagues for raising thousands of pounds for charity in her memory.
Ciara Rodgers says fundraising efforts from volunteers at Asda Cookstown have come as a comfort to her family after the death of younger sister Roisin in October 2024.
Checkout colleague Ciara said: “Losing Roisin has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through. We were so close in age, just 18 months apart, and she was more than just my sister — she was a part of me.
“In the last few years of her life, we shared a home with our mum, my son and Roisin’s daughter, and we shared so much of our everyday lives. We also worked together, building friendships and memories side by side — even wearing the same uniform for more than 20 years.
“Even though we worked in different departments, we would always find each other on shift, taking a moment each morning to say hello and to see how each other was. Those small, everyday moments mean so much to me now.
“Since losing Roisin, the love and support we’ve received from everyone at the store has meant the world to our family. The effort they’ve put into raising money for Charis Cancer Care, a charity that was so close to her heart, has brought us real comfort and has been a wonderful way to honour her memory.”
Last month, friends and colleagues from Asda Cookstown presented a cheque for more than £3,000 to Charis Cancer Care, a charity based outside the town that provides holistic and complementary therapies to people from across Northern Ireland impacted by cancer, including family members or anyone bereaved by the disease. Last year more than 1,100 people availed of the team’s services.
Arlene, Head of Income Generation at Charis said: “We have been blown away by the amazing support of the Asda team, along with the Rodgers family, as they raised money for Charis in 2025. The family completed an incredible ‘Walking for a Difference’ event in August, and the money raised through bucket collections at Asda brought that total to more than £16,000. The family continue to fundraise for us as they take on the Belfast Marathon in May. Thanks so much to the Rodgers family, as well as the team at Asda and their customers for their extremely generous support.”
Ciara added: “Charis Cancer Care is a fantastic organisation that helps not just people diagnosed with cancer, but their families too, from the point of diagnosis onwards. Even after Roisin passed away, they’ve continued to wrap their arms around us, offering whatever support they can. The charity’s services – as well as the heartfelt efforts of everyone at Asda who has shown their support – have meant the world to our family.”
Janice Gibson, Community Champion at Asda Cookstown, said: “Roisin was never one for the limelight, but her kindness spoke louder than anything else. A great colleague and a true friend, she was the kind of person who would go out of her way to help others, even driving a colleague to the bus station to catch a bus home, even though she lived across the road from work.
“We have endless examples, but a simple act like that says everything about the remarkable person she was. She was always there for the people, customers, colleagues, friends, her football team, and above all, her beloved daughter and her family. By fundraising in her memory, we were not just remembering Roisin, we were continuing the kindness she showed every day.”