A couple from Oswaldtwistle have donated a total of £1,900 to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust’s charity, ELHT&Me. Brian and Lynda Hodgkinson celebrated five years from the start of Brian’s course of chemotherapy by donating the funds, to be spent in the Chemotherapy Unit at Royal Blackburn Hospital.
“When our children left home and we had looked after our parents and elderly relatives we decided that it was now our time, we would once again become the people we used to be”, said Lynda.
“We had always enjoyed dancing and found places that were doing dances from our era - rock ‘n’ roll - we went to dances, weekenders and on rock ‘n’ roll holidays both in England and abroad and made lots of new friends, all enjoying life to the full.
"Even when the bombshell hit that Brian was diagnosed with bowel cancer in January 2014, we went to the rock ‘n’ roll whenever he was well enough.”
In 2017 the couple held a charity rock ‘n’ roll night at the Poplar Club, Accrington, to raise funds for the Chemotherapy Unit, supported by friends from across the country as well as those they knew locally. Brian and Lynda sponsored the entertainment and other costs at the event, so that all money raised was received by the hospital.
“We wanted to raise the money as a ‘thank you’ to the staff on the Chemotherapy Unit for caring for me so well”, said Brian.
Following the event, Lynda’s arthritis worsened, so the couple joined tea dances as an alternative to high impact rock ‘n’ roll. The Friendship Club at Feniscowles Methodist Church, Blackburn was formed at the beginning of the year, with music played by Brian and Lynda mostly from the 1950’s and 60’s for sequence dancing.
Brian and Lynda hosted their second charity night at the Friendship Club in July, and are looking to hold similar events in the future.
“We wanted to host the events and raise money so that the unit could provide things that will make life easier for those undergoing chemotherapy now”, said Brian.
“We want to show that life can go on after cancer and you can take the opportunity to enjoy your new and precious life.”
Denise Gee, Fundraising Manager at ELHT&Me, said: “The charity is so pleased to be accepting this donation from Mr and Mrs Hodgkinson. It’s fantastic that they’ve found a way to raise funds whilst hosting the dances they enjoy!”
“By donating cash, Brian and Lynda have empowered our staff and patients to choose what purchases or projects would improve the experience and care of patients on the Chemotherapy Ward, which is much appreciated!”
