4 February 2024, Joanne, Chris and daughter Mia were celebrating their impending and eagerly anticipated future together, as a family at their engagement party. In preparation for the biggest wedding that we were all looking forward to. A couple that were surely made for one another, meant to be together, a match made in the stars and those stars had certainly aligned between them.

Joanne, is only 35 years old, planning her wedding in what should be the happiest time of her life. A beautiful person whose love, compassion and selflessness for others, always shines through so brightly. Joanne is a gifted Nursery Nurse at Mulberry Bush, whose love for children and others has created for her, the perfect role. A better person in that position you could not find. Following a persistent cough, then pains throughout her body, Joanne had been back and forth to the Doctor’s to no avail. On Tuesday 19th March 2024 she was admitted to Fairfield Hospital then to Royal Oldham.

Joanne, being Joanne insisting she was not poorly enough to warrant taking up a bed that somebody else may need. Joanne all over, always putting others first…a rare, unique gift to be found in today’s world but a value that Joanne does/has always held dear.

Joanne’s condition, in the space of 1 week has continued to deteriorate rapidly at a cruel speed that knows no bounds.

On 29th March - Good Friday, following extensive tests, Joanne was given the devastating news that she has an aggressive form of secondary bone cancer which cannot be treated, the Hospital are unable to identify the Primary source. This secondary cancer has spread so aggressively and rapidly that Joanne was told she would not see Christmas. Her 13 year old daughter Mia, had to be told that Mummy is ‘so poorly, so very, very poorly that she will not be able to win this fight.’

Chris wanted to marry the love of his life, something we all wanted. Joanne longed for that day, planning the biggest of celebrations! Looking forward to a future filled with love, hope, happiness and promises with the man she loves, her cherished daughter Mia, surrounded by her beloved family and ocean of friends, her world.

On Saturday 30 March 24, Joanne, Chris, Mia, family and friends were given the devastating news that Joanne has 2-3 weeks, if that, at best! This time line is reducing at such an unfathomable speed that the reality is we may be talking days, if not hours.

Joanne’s primary concern and worry is the emotional and financial devastation her illness and inevitable passing will have upon the family. We have set this fund-raiser in the hope of alleviating some of these pressures in these unbearable, cruel, devastating times ahead. If you can please donate or offer prayers for Joanne, Chris, Mia and her family for the dark times ahead, we can help to shine a light to bear a small proportion of this burden for them.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Joanne our darling, Chris, Mia, Mum, Dad, Sisters, Brother/Sister-in-laws, Aunties, Uncles, Nieces, nephews, we are all here for you, we have your backs, sending you all the love in the world xxxx