Group rallies round after friends hit by cancer

FRIENDS rallied round to raise more than £6,000 for charities after learning that three of their friendship group have been hit by cancer.

They organised a quiz, raffle, auction and a ‘Marathon My Way’ walking 26.2 miles around Suckley, Powick and the Leigh Sinton areas.

Hannah Womersley, 38, of Rushwick, said: “We, as a group of friends, have recently been hit with some very sorrowing news that a very close friend of ours has been diagnosed with stage four cancer.

“This in itself has been devastating but we have also been saddened by learning that other close friends have also been diagnosed with cancer, including liver, lung, bone and prostate.

“We decided to organise an event to raise money for Cancer Research UK and St Richard’s Hospice.

“We ran a charity quiz at the Hop Shed in Suckley, selling tickets to go to the event, raffle tickets and we hosted an auction.

“Myself, Jo Black, Jane MacDonald, Alistair Symon, Gill Hiley, Nick Harvey and Cam White organised the quiz.

"We often frequent there so it was an obvious choice. Sarah (Saleh), who runs things, was fantastic at accommodating our needs.

“We decided to do a quiz with quiz master and friend Bill Coombes whose wife is among the sufferers close to our hearts who are lucky to receive the incredible care St Richard’s Hospice provides.

“We also wanted to do a raffle and an auction. Len Hiley ran the auction. His wife Gill is among our battlers and our truly very best friend.

“We offered a pig roast and vegetarian option provided and served by Jan Womersley (my mother).

“The event was a sell-out with more than 130 tickets sold.”

The friends were donated an array of things from local businesses and ended up raising £6,391.12 which will be split evenly between the charities.

In addition six of them entered the Marathon My Way and walked 26.2 miles around Suckley, Powick, Leigh Sinton and the surrounding areas to get their miles in.

Marathon My Way allows people to do the marathon any way and where you want so the friends decided to walk around local areas.

Sponsorship for that was for Cancer Research UK, the Samaritans and the Heart Foundation.

Hannah said: “This was something my friend Jane MacDonald organised.

“This was her third year doing it.

“Myself, Jo Black, Jude Lee, Cam White and Harriet MacDonald (Jane’s daughter) decided to join in.

“We spent the last few months training by walking two to three times a week in local areas such as Rushwick, Suckley and Alfrick, clocking up the miles.

“Marathon My Way is run by the organisers of the London Marathon.

“Myself and Jane applied for our place and paid the entry fee.

“The others did it in support and to help raise money for the three charities close to Jane.

“Her other daughter underwent emergency mitral valve surgery at the age of 34 (hence British Heart Foundation).

“She lost another family member to suicide (hence Samaritans) and Cancer Research UK due to it affecting so many of our family and friends.

“We set off at 6am from Jane’s house in Suckley, headed to Alfrick, over to Leigh Sinton, then on to Powick, Lower Wick, Rushwick, Bransford and finally back towards Suckley.

“We finished in two groups with the first ones getting back in just under seven hours and the second in just under eight.

“We have raised £1,100 from this. It has been a real show of community spirit and generosity.”