White Lion Walk’s Kind Cash Giveaway For Lucky Shoppers

Published on: 1 Feb, 2014
Updated on: 1 Feb, 2014

By Maria Rayner

Lucky James Skan from Haslemere was rewarded for his good behaviour while shopping with his mum on Friday when he was handed a £20 note in Next clothing store.

James Skan is rewarded for his good behaviour by the manager of the White Lion Walk, Stephen Cotney.

The gift was presented by White Lion Walk manager Stephen Cotney as part of the Random Acts of Kindness event being held in the shopping centre.

Another shopper, Sylvia Chambers of Bordon, had her new clothes paid for by the manager.

Sylvia xxx has her clothes purchase paid for.

Sylvia Chambers has her clothes purchase paid for.

She said: “No one has ever done anything like this for me before. I’m delighted.”

Both Sylvia and James’s mother were full of disbelief and reluctant to take the money when first approached by Stephen and his sidekick, mascot Leonard the Lion.

Stephen said: “A lot of people don’t know how to take it when we offer to pay for their shopping – some of them even get offended. But it’s a genuine act of kindness.”

The giveaway is a regular event that started a few years ago when a firefighters’ strike cancelled White Lion Walk’s firework display. The management decided to give the money back to the customers. Literally.

“One time we came across an elderly couple who were arguing about some jewellery that the husband wanted to buy. The wife felt that they couldn’t afford it,” added Stephen.

“We came over and bought it for them. That really brought a tear to my eye.”

Leonard the Lion planned to give away £1,000 over the course of the day.

Were you one of the lucky ones? Or have you benefitted from a random act of kindness in the past? The Guildford Dragon NEWS would love to hear your story.