THE co-owners of the Green House café in Launceston, Kelly Lawson and Helen Leeson, have raised £200 in just two months for the British Liver Trust, thanks to the generosity of customers.

Helen’s father, Peter, started his own vegan shop in Launceston, which was one of the first in Cornwall — also known as the Green House — in the late 1980s, and ran it for five years before it shut down.

However, when Peter passed away from a liver disease on November 2 last year without doctors ever finding out the problem, Helen and the rest of her family sought comfort from the British Liver Trust.

Helen said: “When my father died the the British Liver Trust were very helpful. They do a lot of research and provide help for people affected. They were a great support to us and we relied on them.”

Helen had been living in Gloucester working as a midwife for a number of years but moved back down to Cornwall on Valentine’s Day this year.

Both women have children who go to Launceston College and it was through them that they struck up an instant friendship.

Once they got talking they both had similar goals — Kelly to run a smoothie bar and Helen a juice bar although they’ve already started serving salads and vegan and gluten-free options amongst other things.

Helen said: “We said to ourselves let’s combine and go for it and we opened about two months ago. We said we’ll support a charity every year and with the British Liver Trust being so close to my heart with my dad, it was the obvious choice for this year.

“We put a pot on the counter for donations and also we said that we’d put any tips we get in. It’s a combined effort. But to raise £200 in just two months is fantastic. We’re delighted. We agreed to count up the change yesterday on the first anniversary of my dad’s death, which was a really nice moment for me.

“I’d like to thank all of our customers who are wonderful, everyone’s been great.”

Helen went on to warn everyone of the effects of liver disease and that you do not have had to drink alcohol to suffer from it.

She said: “People need to be aware that you don’t have to be a heavy drinker to have a problem with your liver. Diet is a lot to do with it, while it’s important not to eat too much fat and make sure you eat plenty of fruit and veg.”