STAFF at a Renfrew supermarket who won a nationwide charity challenge were feeling golden this week after receiving a special visit from a Team GB athlete.

Colleagues and customers at the High Street Aldi were visited by athlete Gemma Gibbons after they topped the supermarket’s charity cycle-a-thon in Scotland.

Staff at the busy store have cycled more than 325km in the last few weeks to raise money for Aldi’s charity partner, Teenage Cancer Trust.

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Their endeavours have helped raise more than £780, and Olympic silver medallist athlete Gemma Gibbons has been on hand to help them celebrate.

This pre-Christmas fundraising push is part of Aldi’s five-year partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust to raise £5million in an effort to ensure no young person faces cancer alone.

Speaking about the visit, Gemma – who won a silver medal representing Great Britain in Judo at the 2012 London Olympic Games – said: “It’s been great to spend time in store today and with the community that has supported this activity. The huge distance cycled by the team here goes to show that a bit of healthy competition and a good cause can help to achieve big things.”

Fritz Walleczek, managing director of corporate responsibility at Aldi, said: “This fantastic effort raised more than £75,000 across the UK for the Teenage Cancer Trust. We are proud to support the work that Teenage Cancer Trust does across the country, and we look forward to continuing our fundraising in the New Year.”

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Teenage Cancer Trust works in partnership with the NHS to provide highly-trained expert staff and specialist cancer units in NHS hospitals across the UK. The charity is there at every stage from diagnosis, through to treatment and after treatment. 

It also brings young people with cancer together so they can support each other.