Cancer Research fundraiser at The Home Store in memory of Lynne Whitehead and Linda Pemberton

Photo: Google, DigitalGlobe

The Home Store

A charity fundraiser for Cancer Research UK is taking place between 6pm and 10pm on Thursday (1 December) at The Home Store on Spotland Road in memory of Lynne Whitehead and Linda Pemberton (nee Adshead).

An administration fee of £3 pounds is required, and includes a homemade mince pie and a cup of tea.

Father Christmas will be present.

There will be ‘Guess the Weight of Santa’, with a luxurious gift hamper from Dunelm as the prize for the closest guess.

Jean’s sister, Sheila, who is in remission from cancer herself, has also baked a cake for a second Guess the Weight: which would see the lucky winner take the cake as their prize.

A raffle draw is available, including clothing from River Island, home goods from B&M and other donated prizes.

There is also the opportunity for visitors to have their nails done in the Fashion Corner, with proceeds going towards the total amount raised.

The event has been organised by former nurse Jean Harris and her family, in memory of her best friend, Lynne Whitehead, who died in 2011 after battling brain and lung cancer, and her sister, Linda Pemberton (nee Adshead), who died in 2007 after battling breast and lung cancer.

Speaking about Lynne, Jean said: “I’ve organised this because Lynne always used to say ‘don’t forget me’. I can’t forget her and I’ll try to do something in her memory, even if it’s every five years.”

Lynne, originally from Whitworth before moving to Burnley, passed away at the age of 47 in 2011 and had worked with Jean as a nurse at Birch Hill, Rochdale Infirmary and Fairfield General Hospitals. Over 200 people attended her funeral at Rochdale Crematorium.

Jean’s sister Linda fought breast cancer for six years before she was cleared in late 2006. She was later given eight months to live after she was diagnosed with lung cancer, but died just two weeks later in May 2007, aged 56.

She’d been a prolific runner as a young teen during the 1960s, running for Rochdale Harriers and A.C.

All funds raised will go to Cancer Research UK.