Hannah the star of night that raised £122,347
A33-YEAR-OLD Southport woman with a rare form of cancer was the star of a charity fundraising night that raised £122,347.
The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity Black and White Ball, held at The Hillbark Hotel in Wirral, was hosted by radio presenter Pete Price and attended by famous names including the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire and Louise Minchin.
But deservedly taking centre stage was patient Hannah Martin, who spoke to guests, and was the feature of a film shown after dinner.
Hannah, who lives in Birkdale, was first diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma when she was just 23.
She was given the shock news after suffering from symptoms including a persistent cough, and itchy skin.
She has had two stem cell transplants. One came from using her own cells while another, in 2012, was a donation from her sister, after she was found to be a suitable match.
She had treatment at Southport Hospital, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
She is now a patient of Clatterbridge Cancer Centre after the integration of blood cancer patients from the Royal in Liverpool. Her gruelling treatment has included chemotherapy, radiotherapy, two stem cell transplants and now immunotherapy. But it has not stopped this determined young woman making the most of her life. Hannah was receiving treatment from Clatterbridge while planning her big day. In 2014 she married husband Lee in Birkdale, before the happy couple enjoyed a honeymoon cruise around the Mediterranean. She said: “The hospital staff were wonderful, making sure my treatment would work round the wedding and that I would be fine for the day.” Now Hannah is keen to do all she can to help Clatterbridge raise £15m towards the construction of a new specialist hospital in Liverpool and improvements to the Wirral site. She said: “This suite is so important because it saves lives. “It isn’t a nice thing to go through but to have the best facilities will be a big help to patients like me.” At the fundraising ball, photographer Mike McCartney was among the guests and a picture he took of his brother, Paul, with band-mate John Lennon as young musicians was auctioned on the night.
Meanwhile Liverpool FC chief executive Peter Moore took the bids for a money-can’t-buy opportunity to be his guest for a match at Anfield, including a tour of the famous ground, and the chance to go pitchside and meet the team.
Other fantastic prizes included a £4,000 jewellery set donated by Boodles, the chance to have a dress designed and fitted by Phillip Armstrong, a bottle of specially-designed Spectre Bollinger from the film of the same name and signed by 007 Daniel Craig, and a makeover by hair stylists t to the stars Andrew and Liz Collinge.
There was also a week in a French c chateau in the auction and hospitality a at Tranmere Rovers.
Leading Liverpool restaurant Panoramic34 gave two successful bidders the unique chance to have their chefs c come into their home and cook for 10 p people.
Guests enjoyed a Perrier-Jouet Champagne reception before a threecourse meal.
There was entertainment from The Three Waiters and the night was rounded off with a disco.
The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity is working to raise £15m towards the construction of a new specialist hospital in Liverpool and improvements to the Wirral site.
The £122,347 raised will fund a stem cell and bone marrow transplant suite in the new hospital.
Katrina Bury, head of the charity, said: “I would like to thank all our guests and sponsors for ensuring The Black and White Ball was such a fantastic success.
“Our host, Pete Price, was fabulous and the generous guests who bought raffle tickets, bid for auction prizes or bought a ticket for the tombola should be very proud of themselves.
“The money raised will go a long way to transforming cancer care for 2.3 million people in Merseyside and Cheshire.
“I would like to thank our sponsors and supporters PCM in partnership with BenQ and Fujitsu, A&B Engineering, The Johnson Foundation, Panoramic 34, Boodles, Perrier-Jouet and ANS.”
FOR more details about the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, visit www. clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk/charity/home