Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am raising money in memory of my wonderful mother, Jacqueline Beresford. I want to raise money and awareness, just as she did, in the hope that one day a cure may be found.

On that fateful day on 5th August 2010 my mum  received the devastating confirmation of her Illness. Typical of the woman, a few days of feeling sorry and then.... action stations... here come the girls... and Neil. Like a military fighting force we closed ranks and prepared to battle. She was a fighter - courageous, brave, tireless - she refused to let her illness get to her - she was unbowed. She was ferocious - she fiercely held onto life and to love with a forcefulness that was awe-inspiring. She fought and she campaigned and she raised money and awareness. Always at her heart lay the welfare of others. 

If you 'Google' Jackie Beresford you will see her theatre reviews, her campaigning for the right to have alternative drugs on the NHS, her remembrance tributes, pictures of her at The Strand Hairdressers with close friends having their hair died a variety of bright hues to raise awareness of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia. 

In August 2011 she was told that there was nothing more that conventional medicine could do for her. A very brief period of self pity was followed by intensive and extensive research into alternative therapies. She gave a two fingered salute to the medical diagnosis and set about discovering a different approach.

She started seeing Dr Cheng,  a herbalist and acupuncture specialist and made very good progress.  Then followed a chance discovery of The Journey Retreat in Birmingham. She found it an intensive experience that delivered real and visible results and returned glowing and different. She was energized and bubbling with enthusiasm for the programme. Something good had happened. 

Her NHS Doctor Professor Craddock could hardly believe the change in her. She actually went into remission in November 2011 - she was a declared a medical phenomenon. She was beating the Leukaemia. She went into hospital on December 12th and had a stem cell transplant the night before she passed away.

She had fought her illness, she had battled it, she was strong and courageous. Tragically my mum passed away , following a brain haemorrhage on 22nd December 2011, surrounded by people she loved and who loved her. Her influence endures and will continue to do so in the never ending consequences that flow from her kindess and her good character.