AN INDEPENDENT business has teamed up with the Leigh Leopards Ladies team to fundraise for an incredibly worthy cause in the community.

Gill Opticians, situated on Ellesmere Street, has been at the heart of the community in Leigh since 1990, and has formed strong connections with patients from in and around the Leigh area.

Choosing to raise money for Wigan and Leigh Hospice, a cause close to the hearts of many of those at the practice, Gill Opticians joined forces with another beloved organisation, the Leigh Leopards, to get the ball rolling.

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Leigh Journal: The rugby players had pictures and signed pictures while raising money for the hospiceThe rugby players had pictures and signed pictures while raising money for the hospice (Image: Gill Opticians)

Bringing the community together in their fundraising efforts, both Gill Opticians and Leigh Leopards ladies team stood at Leigh Market earlier this week to sell raffle tickets, have a chat, and sign autographs to raise as much as possible for Wigan and Leigh Hospice.

The hospice is a charity that does incredible work across the Wigan and Leigh area to provide palliative care for those suffering from life-limiting and incurable illnesses.

Practice Manager from Gill Opticians, David Hindley, commented on the decision to fundraise for the hospice: “We chose Wigan & Leigh Hospice as everyone at Gill's has had first-hand experience of the tremendous work that they do and we wanted to show some support and thanks to their amazing team.

“Lots of our patients and their families have also needed their help and care so with the demand for palliative care ever increasing it was an obvious choice.”

Leigh Journal: Gill Opticians is currently getting a makeover on Ellesmere StreetGill Opticians is currently getting a makeover on Ellesmere Street (Image: Gill Opticians)

As Gill Opticians is recently undergoing refurbishment works on Ellesmere Street, staff joined the Leopards ladies from their temporary pop-up shop in Leigh Market.

With raffle prizes including a signed Leigh Leopards shirt, a signed rugby ball, and a pair of designer sunglasses, the winner will be revealed by Leigh Leopard star, Emma Knowles, in the Gill Opticians’ newly refurbished practice.

The optician's new look will be celebrated with patients and those in the area with an official reopening event later in the summer.