‘We lost our dad but we want to help others and give his death some purpose’
SISTERS’ BID TO RAISE £10,000 IN MEMORY OF THEIR TEACHER FATHER
TWO sisters are hoping to raise more than £10,000 at a charity gala in memory of a Huddersfield maths teacher who taught thousands of pupils at Kirkburton Middle School for 20 years.
Alan Moss, was the Head of Maths at Kirkburton Middle School until his retirement in 2014.
He died in 2016, aged 60, less than three months after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia when his daughter Charlotte was 19 years old.
Charlotte who now lives in London, said: “My dad taught thousands of local residents during his time at KMS, and left quite a legacy in our area.
“Since his death, my sister Rachel and I have fundraised over £25,000 in his memory – mostly for Anthony Nolan, a charity that matches blood cancer patients in need of a stem cell transplant with tissue-matching strangers who are willing to save a life, but also Macmillan Cancer Support, the Leeds Cancer Centre (where he was treated), etc.
“My sister and I are hosting a gala at the Arches in Halifax in September to raise funds for Anthony Nolan, and are looking for support from Yorkshire businesses (or individuals with good connections!) in order to obtain high-value prizes we could auction. We’ve previously organised one similar formal event which raised around £10,000, and are planning this one to be even bigger so that we can hopefully raise even more.
“100 per cent of the profits from the gala will go to Anthony Nolan.
“We expect between 150 to 200 guests and are looking for support with securing high-value prizes to auction, as well as raffle prizes. Re difference for him and make sure the auction prizes, we’re really open that his death has some purpose. to anything that can garner donations, “My dad died less than three although generally the more months after his diagnosis, which is ‘invaluable’ the object/experience, unfortunately not that uncommon the better. Any interested companies for people with acute leukaemia. can contact Rachel “There is so much that still needs and me at ANcharityevent@gmail. to be done to help patients, and Anthony Nolan goes some way to com. filling that gap and making sure people “We began with blood cancer have the best fundraising chance of survival. in memory “I have also done a lot of awareness-raising of my dad to encourage people to because we join the stem cell register, and knew that interned at Anthony Nolan after I many other graduated from university so know families like first-hand how incredible the charity ours could is. still be helped. “It’s impossible to really do justice Especially with to the work that Anthony Nolan does fundraising for but in a nutshell, it gives hope to Anthony Nolan: on average, they people like my dad, and families like save the lives of three people with mine. My mum still lives in Highburton blood cancer every day so, even and retired in 2020 from teaching though it can’t be Dad’s life saved, children with complex communication it’s kind of a way for us to still make a needs.
Charlotte says she has turned the patient advocacy that began with her dad’s cancer into a career and is a health policy and public affairs consultant, who works with charities, professional societies and life sciences companies to urge governments to take action to improve patient outcomes.
She added: “This job combines my degree (BSc Governance and Economics) with my passion for making a difference with people with cancer and other diseases, and my dad is always in the back of my mind when I’m working away.
“In my spare time, I’m also a Campaigns Ambassador for Cancer Research UK, which gives me extra opportunities to engage with politicians on behalf of cancer patients.
“In fact, I was invited to 10 Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister in early 2020 for World Cancer Day, where other Ambassadors and I talked to him about his government’s cancer policies.”
My dad taught thousands of local residents during his time at KMS and left quite a legacy in our area
Charlotte Moss