Overslade woman launches ambitious £30,000 cancer appeal in memory of mother

A Rugby woman who has raised thousands of pounds in her mother’s memory has set herself a new £30,000 challenge.

April next year will mark the 30th anniversary of Joanne Prichett losing her mum, Marlene, to pancreatic cancer.

Joanne was 21 when her mother died, aged 46. Within six months, her two grandparents died from cancer too.

Joanne said life has never been the same since losing her close loved ones.

She said: “I have done a few fundraising events, a raffle and two gala balls and raised over £10,000 so far for Cancer Research UK in mum’s memory.

“As we all know this year has been a completely unforgettable year in so many ways. We all see daily figures of how many people have died from coronavirus, how many have tested positive etc. You cannot get away from it.

“But what is being forgotten is how many more people will die from cancer because of coronavirus. People have been too scared to go to doctors because of it.”

She said vital fundraising has stopped because of it.

“I have a dream of raising another £30,000, which will be a £1,000 for each year she has passed, and all the money to go to Cancer Research,” added Joanne.

“My mum meant the absolute world to me and losing her so young has had a huge impact on my life.”

The fundraiser, who has a teenage son, has set up a fundraising page, which has already generated a lot of interest.

She added: “I love my mum so much and still miss her more than words can say. This is my way of keeping her memory alive.

“Please help me fundraise £30,000, so that mum’s life was not in vain.

“I do not want others to have to go through what I did.”

To donate to Joanne’s £30,000 appeal, visit https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/in-memory-of-marlene-prichett