"We never would've imagined our needlework could help bring cancer cures to Yorkshire" - Janet and Gill's experience

From offering a warm welcome to customers to organising and restocking displays, the dedication of volunteers helps Yorkshire Cancer Research fund life-saving cancer research and services for people across the region.

Among them are volunteers Janet Doemling and Gill Harrison, who work behind the scenes to repair donated clothing, ensuring every item that could be sold is in the best possible condition. Both retired and local to Knaresborough, it was their shared love of sustainable fashion that brought them together at the town’s Yorkshire Cancer Research shop.  

Gill was volunteering at another local charity shop when it shut down during the pandemic. She came across the newly opened Yorkshire Cancer Research shop and, spotting a volunteer recruitment poster in the window, applied immediately.

In addition to sorting donations and serving customers, Gill has become known for her skill in mending woollens and cashmere. From missing buttons to stubborn stains, Gill is known for her ability to bring second-hand items back to life.

She said: “I’ve always repaired my clothes when there’s wear and tear; that’s what I was brought up to do. I hate the idea of things going to waste and being thrown out, especially high-quality garments like cashmere, so I wave my magic wand and give them a new life!” 

"Thanks to the generosity of one supporter, I was able to make minor repairs to a luxury cashmere jumper which was sold for a very reasonable price, making one shopper very happy! Even with a repair label, it’s still a warm, beautiful jumper that someone can enjoy for years.”

A few years after Gill joined, Janet walked into the shop on a rainy Tuesday afternoon to ask the manager if the shop needed more volunteers.  

It was Janet’s first winter after losing her husband to cancer. To help her cope, she went searching for a way to connect with people and support a worthy cause.  

She said: “I have always loved buying my clothes from charity shops. It’s more interesting, cheaper, and helps make a difference. After my husband and sister-in-law's experiences with cancer, I knew I wanted to help fund cancer research in Yorkshire. The Yorkshire Cancer Research shop in Knaresborough felt like where I belonged.”  

With over six decades of sewing experience, Janet repairs donations and creates her own pieces from second-hand fabrics – a shirt from an old scarf, a jacket from bedding, and a bag made from her late husband’s ties. 

Though she’d never repaired cashmere before, Janet taught herself by watching online tutorials. In no time, she had perfected the art of weaving cotton thread through delicate fibres, saving garments from the bin.

Today, Janet and Gill work together to clean and restore donated items that require minimal repairs, ensuring every piece they mend is fit for resale and presented in its best condition.

Emily, the Yorkshire Cancer Research Knaresborough Shop Manager, selects pieces that can be salvaged and passes them onto the duo to repair. Gill tackles stains with specialist washing liquid, while Janet expertly matches threads for an invisible seam. Together, they can mend up to ten items a week.

Gill said: “To me, sustainability is about minimising our damage to the planet, and it’s something we should all be thinking about more. By volunteering at Yorkshire Cancer Research, I’m doing my small part in giving clothes a second life and reducing waste.” 

The Yorkshire Cancer Research Knaresborough shop is one of 15 across the region and, already this year, more than 114,000 items of clothing have found new homes through the charity’s shops. Every purchase made helps bring world-leading cancer research and services to Yorkshire, so more people can live longer, healthier, cancer-free lives.

Janet concluded: “By shopping in a Yorkshire Cancer Research, you’re helping the environment and helping to save lives in Yorkshire. This Sustainable Fashion Week, come in the shop and have a browse: you might very well discover some restored treasures!”