We're a group of ten 18 to 56-year-olds asking for everyone’s support to raise money, for a very special lady and an amazing cancer charity that's close to her heart; Liverpool based Larks (part of the Marina Dalglish Appeal).

On the weekend of Catherine's birthday, 8th of October 2022, we're planning our first ever skydive and will be jumping 15,000 feet out of an aeroplane over Lancaster to raise our target of £50,000. This sum is really significant to continue funding the Larks' invaluable contribution to the women who suffer with cancer. We need your help to achieve this goal, please support us!

Catherine’s Story

In the autumn of 2019, our wife, mum, sister, cousin, auntie and friend Catherine was diagnosed with triple-negative primary breast cancer. You can imagine the shock this was to her family, friends and everyone who has the pleasure of knowing her. Catherine is a strong woman and underwent a single mastectomy and lymph node clearance and received chemotherapy to deal with cancer over the next few months. In April 2020, she completed her treatment, was given the all-clear and proudly rang the bell at the Marina Dalglish centre at Aintree Hospital, a day we'll never ever forget!

Just over a year later, in June 2021, our world turned upside down all over again. Our gorgeous Catherine was diagnosed with secondary stage four metastatic cancer. Her cancer had spread from her breast and was mostly in her spine, liver, hip, and chest area. We simply couldn’t believe it. On 13th June last year, she underwent an emergency operation to remove the tumours that were putting pressure on her spine. And thanks to the amazing team at the Walton Centre in Liverpool, she narrowly avoided paralysis. Almost a year on, Catherine has been treated with three different chemotherapies and radiotherapy in some areas. We have accepted that her cancer is incurable, but our constant hope is to slow, stop the growth or even shrink the tumours.

Catherine's primary cancer is triple-negative, a rare form of the disease, making the range of treatment options much narrower. It's always a worry when she begins a new treatment, as what may work for one person doesn't always work for another. In April 2022, Catherine started receiving Trodelvy, a life-extending new drug for women with incurable triple-negative secondary breast cancer. She is currently reacting well to the treatment, and we're waiting to see what the first scan of the tumours will show. As some of you will know, this past year definitely hasn't been easy, but Catherine has shown us true strength and is an absolute inspiration to us, day in and day out. She shows up and faces each day as it comes!

How the Larks have supported Catherine

Since 2019, Catherine has been a part of Larks, a subgroup of the fantastic Marina Dalglish Centre based in Liverpool.

The Marina Dalglish Appeal was set up by the Dalglish family in 2005 after Marina was successfully treated for Breast Cancer in 2003. The charity has one aim “to make a difference” to cancer patients on Merseyside and their families.

In 2016 the breast cancer support centre Larks was opened in the heart of Liverpool. Marina hoped it would benefit ladies who were able to visit by offering holistic and beauty therapy, counselling, and friendship; however, the bond between the "Larkettes" and the caring atmosphere they have created has surpassed her wildest expectations.

Over the last six years, Catherine and over 200 ladies have walked through their doors or, during the pandemic, joined their 'Larks at Home' groups, all offering invaluable support and care. With two members of staff and an army of volunteers, every Monday & Tuesday, there is a counsellor, a beauty therapist, at least two holistic therapists and, most recently, a retired breast nurse. There is a never-ending supply of tea and coffee and a friendly face to welcome every woman.

Larks has a special place in Catherine's heart and has been a massive part of her experience with cancer. She describes the people there as some of the best you'll ever meet. Their bond and the atmosphere are just incredible.

So it’s now our turn…

How we're supporting Larks

We aim to raise at least £50,000 and ensure a welcoming and supportive environment for all affected women, in years to come.

As a group, we feel this is the least we can do.

We're asking our families, friends, work colleagues, clients, Uni colleagues, customers, neighbours and anyone else who knows us or has been touched by Catherine's story to support us.

Some of us are more petrified than others to do this (Eve, Sarah and Matt)!

Some of us have to lose a couple of stone in weight to do this (no names mentioned)!

All nine of us are self-funding our jumps, so every penny raised directly supports Catherine's chosen charity.

This is for you, Catherine! Our lovely wife, mum, sister, cousin, auntie and friend.

Neil, Eve, Tom, Lisa, Sarah, Will, Matt, Steve and Ryyan xx