Fundraising friends take to the skies to fight cancer

Best friends are taking a leap to remember those they have lost and to those who are fighting cancer across Sunderland.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Jan 2016, 13:00 BST
Friends Claire Colgan, left, and Nicola Moore and will be doing a charity skydive in aid of cancer charities after members of their families were affected by the illness.Friends Claire Colgan, left, and Nicola Moore and will be doing a charity skydive in aid of cancer charities after members of their families were affected by the illness.
Friends Claire Colgan, left, and Nicola Moore and will be doing a charity skydive in aid of cancer charities after members of their families were affected by the illness.

Both Nicola Moore and Claire Colgan have experienced first hand the pain and suffering cancer causes to individuals and families.

Nicola lost her sister Julie in October 2010 after a short battle with cancer which started in her breast, spread to her brain and then the rest of her body. She was 42.

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Nicola, 42, of Heaton in Newcastle, said: “When Julie was told the cancer had spread to her brain she responded by saying ‘at least I now know I have a brain’.

“That just shows how Julie never let the illness get her down and knew no matter what, cancer couldn’t take away her sense of humour.”

The pair are taking the leap with tandem skydives in March this year and have also organised a charity evening at The Ivy Leaf Club in Hendon on Friday, February 5, with their favourite comedy drag act, Queen Roxy Tart.

Claire, 43, of Whitburn, whose mum Maureen and aunts Hilda O’Brien and Sheila Potts have all fought cancer recently, said: “Both me and Nicola wanted to raise as much money as possible to remember Julie and show to our families how much they mean to us.

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“The best way we can show cancer we’re not scared is to laugh in its face, and that’s why we wanted Roxy to come and perform for us.

“It just so happens that our husbands said they would find nothing funnier than seeing us fall 10,000ft from the sky, that’s why we’re also doing the skydive.”

The duo are hoping to raise more than £4,000 to be split between Breast Cancer Care and Cancer Research UK.

Thanks to the generosity of a number of businesses, family and friends, Claire and Nicola are confident of reaching their target, with 200 guests set to join in with the laughter on the night.

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Anyone who would like to sponsor Nicola and Claire can visit their mydonate page at www.mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/nicolamoore1.

Those who can help with raffle prizes for the charity night or would like to purchase tickets, should ring Nicola on Tel. 07817303657.

Related topics:SunderlandWhitburnQueenNewcastle