Fundraising will benefit cancer patients
Pub regulars helped raise £1,800 for a hospital’s cancer unit, in memory of a much-loved daughter and friend.
Emily Cole died in 2022, aged 33, after a lifetime of complex health challenges. Her mum Claire Thomson led the fundraiser at The Market Inn in Faversham, where she is a member of the social club.
Emily was first diagnosed with a tumour at three years old. She had treatment at several hospitals, including Great Ormond Street in London. But her loved ones chose to support the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, to thank teams for the care Emily received at the Cathedral Day Unit.
Claire expressed deep gratitude for their support and compassion.
She said: “Myself, Emily’s Dad, Derek, and our youngest daughter, Shannon, supported Emily every step of the way. The care she received was outstanding – the teams are just amazing.
“Emily will always be a part of our lives and we speak about her daily. Life does not get easier, we just learn to deal with it.”
The £1,800 donation was raised with a Christmas hamper raffle at the pub. Customers, social club members, and the pub's landlords also made donations, as did Claire’s family.
Shepherd Neame's head of professional property services John Barnes attended the cheque presentation.
He said: “This is an amazing testimony to the power of community, and the power of pubs to bring people together to raise money for such a great cause.”
Dee Neligan, head of East Kent Hospitals Charity, added: “Emily’s story is humbling, and we are so grateful for this wonderful fundraising.
“It will enable us to make a real difference to the experience of patients at the Cathedral Day Unit.”
The donation will fund projects benefiting patients undergoing cancer treatment at the unit. Previous donations have been used for items such as specialist cooling caps used during chemotherapy to reduce hair loss.
For more information about East Kent Hospitals Charity and how you can make a donation, visit: https://www.ekhcharity.org.uk/
Claire has previously raised funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, Kent Autistic Trust, and St Nicholas School. St Nicholas is a school for children with profound and multiple learning disabilities.