EACH has opened on the corner of York Road in Felixstowe

On Thursday, the ribbon was cut to launch the new East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) store on the corner of Hamilton Road and York Road in Felixstowe by Bethan Reid, whose daughter Gabriella receives care at EACH's Treehouse centre in Ipswich.

Gabriella has Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), which means she has complex health needs, including being blind and having severe muscle seizures.

READ MORE: EACH will move to York Road in Felixstowe on June 20

The new EACH shop has opened in a former NatWest Bank premises (Image: EACH) Bethan said: “We were so pleased to be asked.

“It was a very proud and special moment and a real honour."

In May, the EADT revealed that EACH was looking to move from its smaller premises across the road, which it has occupied since 2012, to a new site that was 'bigger, better and brighter'.

Long-serving volunteer Sue Buckley and retail assistant Debbie Coggins held the ribbon for Bethan to cut.

READ MORE: Felixstowe mum 'proud' to open new EACH charity shop

The EACH shop has moved to larger premises (Image: EACH) Bethan added: “EACH has supported us in many ways, including helping us understand and manage Gabriella’s medication.

“It’s been a hard, stressful time but we’re getting there slowly.

READ MORE: Felixstowe news

“EACH has been a big part of that process and the care team are lovely.

“I’m also very proud of Gabriella. She’s a lovely, cheeky little girl who’s made such progress in the last year or so.

Staff at the newly-launched EACH shop in Felixstowe (Image: EACH) “It’s hard for her to express herself but she makes different noises to communicate what she’s thinking and feeling and we’re learning what she’s trying to say.”

Earlier this month Sarah Throssell, EACH's head of retail central operations, spoke of the charity's 'delight' in moving to the new premises after outgrowing the previous store, which had been the charity's home since 2012.

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She said: “It’s a fabulous opportunity to bring another of our classy, stylish shops to the town, with more space to sell our range of donated and new goods.

“We can’t wait to get started and feel sure our loyal customers and the community in general, will feel equally positive.”

The NatWest closed on September 27, 2017, with the bank blaming a sharp reduction in the number of transactions.

EACH provides care and support to life-threatened children and their families. 

The charity is appealing for volunteers to help out at the new store and anyone interested can email Haze.Dee@each.org.uk or call 01394 279224.