In memory of Cath O’Neill, we’re raising money for St Ann’s Hospice in Heald Green.

Cath passed away on the 11 January 2025 at St Ann's Hospice, aged 70.

I helped her to fulfil some of her travel wishes before she died and I found her a really inspiring woman.

She wanted to raise money for the hospice who cared for her so well over her final weeks. I hope we can raise a significant amount of money on her behalf.

Please read her story below and give what you can.

Win a 2 Night Stay at a 5* Hotel in Buxton

Free Prize Draw*

Thanks to the Buxton Crescent Hotel in Buxton, we have been donated a 2 night stay at the Buxton Crescent on Bed & Breakfast with full access to their spa facilities.

All those who make a donation (of any size) will automatically be entered into the free prize draw. Please make sure your contact details are shared with us so that we can make contact with the winner.

We will notify the winner of the free prize draw the end of February.

Why are we doing this?

Read Cath O’Neill’s Story:

Cath O'Neill came to see me at the start of last year. She was recovering from cancer treatment and wanted to fulfil as many of her travel dreams as possible whilst she was still able to do so.

I have always seen travel as one of the best and most important things we can do with our limited time on this wonderful planet. So to meet someone over a coffee who has had that realisation that life doesn't go on forever and to make the most of every precious day - to help them tick off their travel wishes - and to put their faith in me to make it happen - was an honour.

In May '24, Cath travelled to Mar Menor - a lagoon in Spain, to spend a week enjoying one of her most treasured pastimes; paddle boarding. She'd not managed to paddle board since before her treatment. She travelled out there on her own and spent every day, first with a private lesson, out on the calm waters.

Above: Cath in Mar Menor

Next on her wish list was to experience a Santorini Sunset which tied in with celebrating her 70th birthday. In October '24 that wish also came true. She even told me that she managed some yoga on the boat!

Above: Cath on a sunset sailing trip in Santorini

The next wish was to see the northern lights and our plan was to book her on a cruise through the fjords of Norway. But whilst planning this we found out the news that her cancer had come back.

Cath was a fighter and she was desperate to have one final holiday. We searched for something that would be achievable and booked her a stay over New Year at the beautiful Buxton Crescent Hotel in Derbyshire - there would be no northern lights here, but there would be a spa and a lovely view, not too far from Manchester where she was having treatment at the Christie.

However, soon after this we learned that Cath would be on end of life care and within a matter of weeks after Santorini, Cath moved into St Ann's Hospice in Heald Green. Cath became too ill to get to Buxton and had to cancel what would have been her final travel experience.

She phoned me to say that she wished that she could find a way to raise some money for the hospice. With the aid of her brother, we managed to secure a generous donation from The Buxton Crescent hotel - a 2 night stay with breakfast and spa access. We want to use this to fulfil Cath's wish to raise money for the hospice.

Please donate what you can - Cath would be so happy that her story has helped to raise some money for the hospice.

Thanks to Buxton Crescent Hotel for their kind donation and to each one of you who makes a donation to this great cause.

Mark 🙏🏻

*Terms

This is a free prize draw and you can also enter by writing to us at Mark Bratt Travel, Studio 107, 86 Princess St, Manchester. M1 6NG.

The prize of a 2 night stay at the Buxton Crescent is on bed and breakfast basis includes full access to the spa facilities. Accommodation is subject to the hotel's availability. Accommodation is non-transferrable and there is no cash alternative. Valid until 20 December 2025.