Fundraisers with John and Joyce hand cheque to Jacky from the Christie

Joyce and John Shacklock , the Furness Vale couple who founded the charity Daniel’s Light in memory of their only child, Daniel,  have handed over another £10,000 to the Christie Hospital leukaemia unit.  This brings to  £207,000 the total raised by the charity over 17 years, to help beat leukaemia, the disease that killed their son at 20 years of age.

Jacky Plant, community officer for Christie, went along to John and Joyce’s home, to receive the cheque.  Nine ladies from Furness Vale and Whaley Bridge, who help Joyce with fund-raising coffee mornings and lunches, joined the little ceremony in John’s garden, filled with his beloved bonsai trees.

Most of the fundraising is done in the Peak District, but the charity’s fame has spread into Greater Manchester and elsewhere.  Children from Greenbank preparatory school, Cheadle Hulme, raised £5,613 for Daniel’s Light, which became the school’s charity of the year. Kate Mercer, who lives in Whaley Bridge, is music teacher at the school – she suggested the charity to Greenbank’s  head.

Kate’s husband Simon, is music teacher at King’s School, Macclesfield.  The couple have been strong supporters of Daniel’s Light ,  Joyce Shacklock said:  “The school gave us such a boost, it was absolutely wonderful.  We are so grateful.”

Upcoming events include:

Friday 26 October, 9am-12 noon, coffee morning, Mechanics’ Institute, Whaley Bridge,

Sunday 28 October, starting 12 noon, Whaley Bridge canal basin, lunch and cruise on Judith Mary.  Tickets £12.50.

Saturday 24 November, 9am-12 noon, coffee morning, Mechanics’ Institute.

Friday 30 November,  6pm onwards,  stall at Christmas  market on  lights switch -on evening, Mechanics’ Institute.

¨     Further information from Joyce on 01663  732 187.  Jacky Plant is on 0161 446 3979 or jacky-plant@christie.nhs.uk  More on the Christie website www.christie.org