Melanie was so caring... now I want to help others
AMUM whose daughter died aged just 23 has launched a campaign in her memory to help cancer patients.
Dorothy Beattie, from Aughton, was devastated when Melanie was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in 2003.
Tragically Melanie, who was working as a barrister’s clerk in Liverpool at the time, died within a few months of the diagnosis, in July 2003.
Inspired by her memory. Dorothy and her friends have spent the years since raising an amazing £210,000 for the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, as Melanie received “wonderful” treatment at the centre.
Dorothy is now urging people to help her raise another £20,000 for a complementary therapies room, to help patients relax through massages and pampering, in the new Clatterbridge hospital being built in Liverpool.
The hospital will be opened next to the new Royal in Liverpool, and is due to welcome its first patients in 2019.
Dorothy said: “Melanie loved entertaining. She was caring, great fun and loved by everyone, young and old.
“It was awful watching her go through the things she did, but the care she received was wonderful.
“Now we want to help others going through the same thing. That has always been our aim.”
After her daughter’s death the determined fundraiser launched the Melanie Beattie Appeal fund with friends Pauline Cheesman, Irene Weston, Christine McCabe, Sylvia Swift, and Joan Lewis.
She said “not giving up”, countless calls and letters, and some spectacular events had helped raise the extraordinary sum of £210,000 so far.
The funding has been used for cars that allow patients to have chemotherapy at home, specialist beds, and a conservatory at the centre.
Dorothy and her friends are determined to fulfil their latest fundraising mission.
She said: “They quiver when they hear me say, ‘I’ve got an idea’, but they always work so hard and enthusiastically on everything. We do it all, from the cooking to the flower arranging, making every saving we can.
“We have written letters, sat on the phone, and just worked so hard. We don’t give up. When we have events we work hard to get everything donated and we have found people and businesses to be so generous.
“In fact, the generosity of people always amazes me, and the level of support we have from family and friends is wonderful.
“Now we are asking people to back us once again to fund the building of this room.
“We have already raised £20,000 towards a complementary therapies room at the new hospital. We need to make another £20,000 to pay for it.”
Find out more about the Melanie Beattie Appeal by emailing beattied@yahoo. co.uk, and for information about the Clatterbridge new hospital appeal visit www. clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk