An Arundel shop manager is celebrating a monumental double milestone, marking 25 years of service with Cancer Research UK while hitting an incredible £3million fundraising total.

Sue Stoves-Clark, who at the start of her career with Cancer Research UK handled PR for the whole of the area, travelling to shops to do press releases for the shop managers, attributes this massive financial achievement to a deeply supportive community and an extraordinary team of local volunteers.

Nick Smith, regional manager for Cancer Research UK praised the milestone during a recent celebration event: “What a fantastic team and how they are brilliantly led by an excellent leader. I am incredibly humbled by your dedication to the cause and the unbelievable £3 million you have raised in this time."

Reflecting on the £3million milestone, Sue emphasized that the achievement belongs to the entire community: "We simply could not have reached this incredible milestone without the unwavering help, dedication and commitment of our wonderful team of volunteers, both past and present. They have done an absolutely amazing job over the past 25 years, and I am profoundly grateful to every single person who has given their time or donated to help us beat cancer."

placeholder image — Sue Stoves-Clark has raised £3million

Over the last 25 years, Sue has spearheaded numerous high profile creative fundraising campaigns across Arundel.

Memorable initiatives include rallying local builders to literally ‘give the shirts off their backs’ for the cause, and organising a public event where local Arundel firefighters volunteered to be sponsored to have their heads shaved.

In another major community effort, local men in The Red Lion pub in Arundel faced wax strips, raising funds by having their chests and legs waxed live in the pub. More recently, the shop has kept the fundraising momentum alive through highly popular community Rock ‘n Roll Bingo events, raising thousands of pounds.

The funds raised by the Arundel shop directly support Cancer Research UK’s life saving work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Sue will be leaving Cancer Research UK at the end of January 2027 to pursue a new venture and to spend more time with her husband Tony, family, friends and 10 grandchildren and to do the things that she loves.

Sue is a member of the RHS and regularly exhibits flowers, vegetables, herbs, cakes and photography, she has won awards every year in the categories mentioned. "I really enjoy our garden, I think this passion came from my father who had a lovely garden, he used to grow gladioli. I had a go last year and I was over the moon to receive a 2nd prize for it! I have many interests to keep me busy.”

Sue also co-founded a Cat rescue charity in Crete, Cats Of Crete Hersonissos in 2019 to which she will now be able to devote more time to, this came after rescuing a six-month-old kitten on an anniversary trip which flew to the UK with an escort three weeks after Sue returned.