A group of friends from Stockport are on a mission to raise money for charity after one of them lost their mum to cancer.

Nine friends of Nicola Fletcher and 15 of their children have set out to raise funds for Cancer Research UK in the name of Nicola’s mum, Elaine Clayton, who sadly passed away last year after her fight with the disease.

The group, using the strapline #10BestFriends, took part in the 5km Race for Life at Woodbank Park – the first of several planned events during 2018 that include a World Cup party fundraiser, a clothes swap party, a quiz night and other money-making ideas yet to be decided.

A Just Giving page has been set up, where they are also raising money for Histiocytosis UK, which funds research into the rare cancer Langerhans cell histiocytosis that a family friend is suffering from.

Alongside Nicola at the Race for Life were Kirsty Mottershead, Laura Lawton, Lauren Johnson, Sue Smith, Sarah Broomhead, Sophie Button, Lianne Morgan, Jenny Slack, and Hazel Higgins, with support from Nicola’s sister, Joanne Petch and dad, Keith Clayton.

“Losing mum has been the single hardest thing to happen to me,” said Nicola.

“This time, more than ever, I have needed my amazing friends, and when I heard they wanted to pledge to a year of fundraising I was very touched.

“Their support has been incredible. We will laugh, cry and remember Mum together raising money for two fantastic causes along the way.”

Family affair

Nicola’s sister Joanne, and her friends Nicole Jackson, Alyx Hasircioglu and Natalie Brine, are doing some fundraising of their own.

Nicole recently took part in a sky-dive in the name of Elaine and in aid of St Ann’s Hospice, while the group are taking part in Pretty Muddy at Tatton Park on the June 23 in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Joanne added: “In September last year my world fell apart when I lost my amazing, beautiful, caring mum.

“She was diagnosed with cancer less than a year before. She was unbelievably brave throughout it all and fought whatever the cancer threw at her, never letting it get her down.

“We created some amazing memories over her last few months; she was there to share my wedding day and got to meet her first grandson, Jack, which are memories I will cherish forever.

“I couldn’t have made it through it all without my best friends! So who better to have by my side to conquer Pretty Muddy!” said Joanne.

Joanne’s Just Giving page, in aid of Cancer Research UK, can be found HERE.