Bella Gateshead, which opened on the Upper Qube in the Intu Metrocentre, on Monday 4 April, run 5 days of ‘dry runs’ – where customers got to try their own taste of Italy through the dishes of the brand’s new menu – and all the money from the drinks and some items from the menu will be donated on 1 June to the local charity – The Denise Taylor Cancer Trust, who helped and supported one of the Bella team’s family during their most difficult time last year.
The Denise Taylor Cancer Trust is Hartlepool’s local charity, helping those suffering from cancer and their families with non-repayable grants, easing the difficult and unavoidable costs that are associated with the disease, including travel, utilities, transport and childcare.
The cheque handover event, planned for 1 June at Bella Italia Gateshead, will see the donation from Bella of £5,266.01 handed to Helen Hart, the daughter of Denise Taylor, who now runs and manages it together with friends and other family members, since Denise passed away a number of years ago.
Bella in Gateshead has created 35 jobs and is be serving up authentic Italian treats for breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Bella’s menu, which brings together the best flavours from across Italy, is packed with products from family-run Italian producers.
Helen Hart, the daughter of inspirational Denise Taylor, said, “The Denise Taylor Cancer Trust started as a selfless endeavour, and was a way for Denise to use her own experience to help others, insistent that this tragic part of her life could be used to motivate and contribute to the ongoing battle against Cancer. To date, the trust has raised over £35,000 for the families and sufferers of Cancer in Hartlepool and the donation from Bella Italia will go towards continuing the care for those who are struggling to assert control over their illness and supporting their families”.
Bella Gateshead’s General Manager Stacey Hetherington, said, “It’s a personal achievement for me to be able to give back to the Denise Taylor Cancer Trust, as they have helped my family when we were in the greatest need. It is truly amazing the work the charity does in the local Hartlepool community and all of us here at Bella Gateshead are very proud to have been able to support them and donate the money from our Dry Runs”.