An Ottery family are rallying residents to visit a pop-up shop in aid of a charity that supported them when they needed it most.

Sidmouth Herald: The Rowland family have been helping Pete's Dragons in their week long pop up shop after the charity supported them following the death of much loved Dan Rowland. Pictured is 18 month Ezmae, Jayden, seven, their mum and Dan's sister Leanne and mum Lesley.The Rowland family have been helping Pete's Dragons in their week long pop up shop after the charity supported them following the death of much loved Dan Rowland. Pictured is 18 month Ezmae, Jayden, seven, their mum and Dan's sister Leanne and mum Lesley. (Image: Archant)

Exmouth based charity Pete’s Dragons have opened the doors to its store for one week to raise money to help those in the region affected by suicide.

The charity supported the Rowland family after the death of son and brother Dan in 2014, at the age of 28.

His mum Lesley and sister Leanne will be volunteering as part of their ongoing support for the charity.

The shop has been set up in the former Sweet Memories premise on Broad Street and was donated for free for the week by landlords Country Farms.

It will be open this week from 9.30am to 5pm from today (Monday) until Saturday, September 16.

Mum-of-two Leanne said support from residents to donate items to the shop have been ‘amazing’.

She said: “It was really nice, I wasn’t expecting it. I was putting it on Facebook as we wanted people to come in. I have had loads of private messages and lots of deliveries.

“We were one of the first people they [Pete’s Dragons] helped. They did a Hug in a Hamper for us. It was at Christmas and the bell run and there was a big hamper on the floor and there was a gift for me, my son, a Christmas present for my dogand mum and dad.”

She said the family have held fundraisers as they know what affected families are going through.

Alison Hill, CEO and founder, set up the charity after the loss of her brother and hopes the pop-up shop will raise money and awareness.

The charity began running pop up shops at it’s headquarters in Exmouth and held a successful event in Cornwall.

She said: “Everything we sell from the shop is profit and put straight back into the families. It raises awareness in the town we are in.

“In order to provide the service across the whole of Devon we need £150,000 a year.

“We are really reliant on people to fundraise and giving us the shop for the week.”