Family honoured after fulfilling dying mum’s wish to help others
FITZGERALDS RAISE £15K FOR PANCREATIC CANCER WITH BOOK, EVENTS
A LEICESTERSHIRE family has fulfilled a dying mum’s wish after she lost her fight with pancreatic cancer.
They have made it their mission to raise as much money as they can in the fight against the disease.
Michael Fitzgerald, along with the help of his daughters Hope and Roisin, has raised over £15,000 since the death of Carol Fitzgerald in 2019.
Carol, Michael’s wife, died less than a year after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2018.
The loss of Carol was devastating for all of her family.
But before Carol died, she made her husband promise to do something with the book he had written 24 years earlier, when he was training to become a teacher.
The request was part of a wish list she had left Michael, pictured right with Carol.
Her family say the wish list was a true example of her character and only included wishes that would help others.
True to his word, Michael published the book last year, titled Nosey Nora.
It was a huge success and the book, that was launched in Carol’s favourite bookstore in the Cotswolds, sold out within weeks, raising over £900 for Pancreatic Cancer UK.
The book was only one part of the work carried out by the Fitzgerald family since Carol died.
They have also hosted quizzes and held non-school uniforms at Lady Jane Grey school in Groby, where Michael is the head teacher.
Their work has now been recognised by the charity and they were awarded a Star Award from Pancreatic Cancer UK earlier this year.
Michael said that he was both humbled and proud to have won the award, but he had mixed feelings too.
“It was a lovely surprise, normally you’d get invited down to London but this year they released who had won online,” he said.
“I think there were around 100 nominations and obviously we got nominated by the public and won.
“The ceremony was held over Zoom and it was lovely but it was also sad because most of these people are only here because they’ve lost someone to this awful disease.
“When we received the award we were quite humbled and proud but it was also bittersweet.
“Carol said ‘you must do everything you can to help people’ and she would say that we have achieved that and that we have followed through with what
she wanted, so it is a very, very mixed feeling.”
Around 650 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year in the East Midlands. Less than 7 per cent of people with the disease will live for five years after diagnosis, making it the deadliest common cancer.
Speaking on behalf of the charity, Diana Jupp, the chief executive of Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: “I was delighted to present the Fitzgerald family with this award for their amazing fund-raising achievements.
“The whole family have excelled and showed an astounding commitment to the charity.
“Our star awards are our way of showing our deep admiration and appreciation to those who have supported the charity so passionately over the year. This year, it was more important than ever to bring people together virtually, to celebrate the Pancreatic Cancer UK community.”
Nosey Nora was a massive success, so much so that Michael and his family have written another, called Nora Saves Christmas.
Michael said that Carol loved Christmas so it seemed fitting with her character to write a festive-themed chil
When we received the award we were quite humbled and proud but it was also bittersweet
Michael Fitzgerald
dren’s book. The book is selling for £5.99 and, again, all the money raised will go towards helping Pancreatic Cancer UK. The head teacher hopes to sell around 600 copies of the book this time around to raise as much money as possible.
A third and final book is planned for sometimes next year.
If you wish to purchase Nora Saves Christmas, you can do so by e-mailing Michael at: