The Kelsall grandmother behind the annual gala reveals her family crusade against cancer

May 12 2011 by Rachel Flint, Chester Chronicle

The Kelsall grandmother behind the annual gala reveals her family crusade against cancer

FOR three decades a country fete has brought smiles to the faces of families enjoying races and games in the sunshine.

On Saturday (May 7) children enjoyed face painting, bouncy castles and craft making while parents browsed cake stalls at the 33rd annual Kelsall Gala.

But for the woman behind the festivities the fete is much more than a fun day out, it symbolises years of determination from a family devastated by cancer.

Grandmother-of-two Angela Harrop from Kelsall was just 15 when her father died from liver cancer and her mother started fundraising for Clatterbridge Cancer Research.

Now 61 years old, Angela is still raising money for the life saving charity by hosting the gala which her mum first organised 33 years ago.

So far Angela, who is now supported by her husband Terry, and daughters Suzanne, 27, and Nicola, 32, in her fundraising efforts has raised almost £300,000 for Clatterbridge.

Angela described how she took over the running of the gala after her mother, Lillian Lightfoot, died from bowl cancer 12 years ago.

“She never talked about it but she knew what she had and what was happening.

“Mum was amazing, this fundraising was her life. She died 12 years ago and the fundraising goes on. This family has been touched too much by cancer.”

Angela's mother, Lillian, was a single mother who worked at a local plant nursery, where she would get up at 5am to make beautiful hanging baskets to sell and raise money for Clatterbridge.

Lillian's determination to beat cancer and her love of plants kept her working until she was 70-years-old. But three years later she tragically died of bowl cancer.

Now Angela is continuing her mother's battle to help Clatterbridge in its pioneering research to save lives and treat cancer more effectively in a bid to stop more people going through her family's cancer heartbreak.

And with this year's gala raising more than £2,000 despite the cloudy weather, Angela remains positive that her mother's fundraising legacy is set to continue.

“At the last count we raised £2,100 on Saturday, which was great considering the weather and the economic climate.

“Mum was 73 when she died. Our fundraising goes on, other members of our family continue to be touched by cancer. Yes, I would say it was a crusade.”