Scampers Natural Pet Store in Cambridgeshire has introduced a charge for the use of carrier bags to help reduce its carbon footprint – and raise funds for a local charity.

The store in Soham is now charging 5p for carrier bags, which will go directly to the Liam Fairhurst Foundation – the charity set up in memory of a local teenager.

Piers Smart (left), who owns Scampers, said: “We feel that plastic bag usage needs to be urgently reduced and we are certain that our customers will agree that we all have our part to play.

“From July we will be charging 5p for carrier bags  - although we would rather not have any at all) - which will go directly into the foundation’s charity boxes.

"Several years ago we were honoured to meet Liam and his brother Callum when Liam was attempting to raise funds for the excellent charity CLIC Sargent.

"We were delighted to help then and now, just through a chance re-meeting on Twitter we are going to help his amazing little brother Callum, his family and loads of supporters to continue raising money through their charity The Liam Fairhurst Foundation."

Liam was diagnosed with a soft tissue cancer in his leg and lungs in July 2005 when he was 10 years old and between this date and the date of his subsequent death in June 2009 he underwent numerous courses of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and operations in an attempt to halt the illness.  On three occasions he spent time in intensive care, was taking numerous supplements to keep his kidneys functioning and for the last year the toll of his illness was such that he was confined to a wheelchair. For most people that would have been enough, but despite everything Liam faced he set out to help other children like him. Liam started fundraising after the death of his 12 year old friend Jack Wilkinson in August 2006.

He chose the charity CLIC Sargent because both Jack and his family had been supported by them and he liked the fact that the charity supported the whole family and not just the child affected by cancer. He chose to do a sponsored one mile swim and with  the help of  the local media succeeded to raise £13000. What was remarkable was at the time of the swim Liam had lost over three quarters of the thigh muscle in his left leg and could barely walk 100 yards! But Liam was determined telling his family “no matter how long it takes I’m not getting out of the pool till I’ve done it”.

He then went on to National Television in ITVs FORTUNE MILLION POUND GIVEAWAY where he persuaded a panel of  five millionaires to part with £50,000 so that CLIC Sargent could purchase and equip a luxury caravan for families affected by cancer to be able to have short breaks away from hospital.

To read more visit http://www.scampers.co.uk/liam-fairhurst-foundation-09-10-2012.asp