Breast cancer survivor raises over £25,000 to thank Glan Clwyd Hospital staff for 'world class treatment'
A Denbighshire mum has raised over £25,000 - with a little help from her friends – to say thank you for the ‘world class cancer treatment’ she received at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
Friends and family gathered at Wigfair Hall in St Asaph in May for a glamorous James Bond inspired evening, entitled the SkyBall, to raise money for the North Wales Cancer Appeal, formerly the Ron and Margaret Smith Appeal.
240 attendees from near and far arrived in style to the SkyFall-inspired evening, wearing tuxedos and ball gowns that would not have been out of place in a Bond film.
The organisers were galvanised into action when one of their close friends was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.
Kate Jackson of Aberwheeler, a mum of three young daughters and a science teacher at Castell Alun High School in Flintshire, witnessed first-hand the amazing work at the Cancer Centre when she received “world class" treatment in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
The seven former Denbigh High School friends, Teri Clayton, Lynsey Blackford, Leanne Roberts, Erin Jones, Charlotte Varley, Cathy Howatson and Kate herself, who all turn 40 in the coming year, brought together a sparkling evening featuring live music, a casino and an auction of promises.
The evening managed to raise a massive £26,215.
Kate said: “Last year when I received my diagnosis, having already lost my own Mum to breast cancer at this age, my outlook was bleak. I couldn’t be more grateful to the fantastic staff at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd for the incredible work they do. Receiving treatment there was made as easy as it could be, and I owe it to them that I am getting back to normal now.
“My friends and I wanted to show our appreciation by fundraising on a larger scale. We had already raised £4000 for Cancer Research UK when I did a sponsored haircut/ bake sale prior to starting chemotherapy. We hadn’t ever done anything like this however, most of us had not even attended a ball. The generosity of our community has been truly humbling, we received so many donations of prizes, services, auction lots and people turning up to help organize the event. We want to say a huge thank you to all that contributed and attended the ball. It is a testament to the close-knit community that an incredible £26,215 was raised which will enable the charity to continue supporting North Wales residents with cancer.”
The North Wales Cancer Appeal directly supports the Cancer Centre at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd by purchasing much needed equipment for the centre. The cheque was handed to Katy Powell, vice-chairperson of the charity.
Kate received her radiotherapy treatment from a linear accelerator machine which was purchased by the charity in 2015 at a cost of over a million pounds. The friendship group pulled out all the stops to raise as much money as possible in gratitude of the incredible work like this the charity does.