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Valiant effort in keeping it clean

After eight years and thousands of clean blankets distributed to people in need, one Albany drycleaner is hanging up his boots this weekend – but that doesn’t mean an end to his tradition of good works.

Valiant Drycleaners owner Don Titterton has cleaned all the Salvation Army’s blankets for the organisation’s year-long Albany blanket appeal at no charge for the past eight years.

Mr Titterton is retiring this month, but the new owners of his business, Acme Drycleaners, have pledged to continue his philanthropy and provide free dry-cleaning of all blankets, doonas, quilts and rugs for the appeal.

Mr Titterton said his working relationship with the Salvation Army started almost by accident about eight years ago.

“This all started when I rescued six blankets from the tip,” he said.

“I pulled up next to these people and saw these blankets about to be thrown away so I took them, because I thought the Salvos could have them.”

By his reckoning over the years Valiant Drycleaners has laundered thousands of blankets for the Salvation Army.

“I only counted them one year and there was over 400 different items… I gave up counting after that,” he said.

Salvation Army Captain Niall Gibson said he was grateful to hear Mr Titterton’s commitment to charity would be continued.

“It’s great news from our perspective, and of course the Salvos is only one part of what Don has contributed to the community,” he said.

katherine.mountain@albanyadvertiser.com