A woman who is not likely to see her next birthday due to a devastating cancer diagnosis has fulfilled her wish of giving back to those who have helped her. Marcelle Hesketh has bowel cancer, with the disease having spread to her lungs, liver and spleen . On July 2, she turned 57.
Her sister, Kellie McGarrie, asked if she wanted a big party for her birthday. Kellie said: “It would be a last one. And she’s not really one for attention.
” But Marcelle had a special birthday wish. Kellie says: “All she really wanted to do is raise some money for Bolton Hospice. “She’s been doing arts and crafts there every Wednesday for over a year.
“She just wanted to present them with one of those giant cheques.” Marcelle Hesketh; A 57 sign at her birthday party/fundraiser (Image: Kellie McGarry) Kellie, of Westhoughton , set about giving Marcelle a fundraiser birthday to remember. Raffle tickets were planned and Bolton musicians the Jam’d and Leah Ward performed along with Liverpool comedian Jack Ryan.
Kellie was floored by Bolton’s response. She said: “Local businessmen who were my friends rallied around, they sponsored the event, paid for the artist and the entertainment so that every penny from tickets could go into the [Bolton Hospice] fund. “ Bolton Wanderers F.
C. stepped in and allowed us to have the party in the stadium’s 1877 suite.” Marcelle Hesketh and man holding up Bolton Hospice cheque; band performing at her birthday at Bolton Wanderer's F.
C 1877 suite.