Family raise thousands in memory of '˜wonderful mum'

Eleven relatives of Alison Deakin, including her husband Graham and children Chris and Nicki, were among the hundreds of people who participated in the Midnight Memory Walk in support of Rotherham Hospice at the weekend.

Alison, who lived in North Anston and worked at the Job Centre in Dinnington, died in June 2015 at the age of 54 following a battle with cancer. Rotherham Hospice provided support to her and her family in her final months.

Her family had initially hoped to raise £300 for the hospice by taking part in the walk that was close to the first anniversary of her death - but they have managed to collect over £2,600 after donations from as far afield as Los Angeles poured in from over 130 people.

Alison’s husband Graham said: “I thought we might get to £1,000. But to actually exceed that by such a great amount is absolutely amazing. It has staggered me a little bit.

“I think it obviously shows people still care about her to pay so much money out.”

He added: “I think she would have been very proud her memory could attract so much money for the cause, knowing it would help so many other people.

“She was always helping other people and even in death she has helped another cause.

“She was very loving and had a great generosity of spirit.”

In 2014, when Alison was undergoing chemotherapy for a second time, she raised over £1,300 for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice by getting sponsored to have her head shaved.

Alison’s niece Rachel Burn, from Mosborough, said: “She was extremely kind and giving. Even when she was really ill, she wanted to raise money for a charity that wasn’t cancer-related because she thought that would be raising money for herself in a way. That is why she did Bluebell Wood. She was a wonderful mum, wife and aunty. She had a lovely giggle and a really beautiful smile and was a really happy person.”

Rachel added there had been mixed emotions on the walk.

She said: “It was nice to be together. It was a bit emotional because it really felt like somebody was missing from the group.

“She would have been really pleased and proud about the amount of money we raised - we just really wish we weren’t doing it at all and she was still here.”

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Alison-Deakin57.