AN intrepid fundraiser is embarking on yet another daunting challenge in memory of her mum.
Lil Norbury has already donated an incredible £11,000 to The Christie to thank staff for caring for her mum Kay Owens.
The 41-year-old is tackling The Lakes 10 Peak Challenge, which includes conquering England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike and nine other peaks.
Lil, a civil servant from Mobberley, said: "My mum was such an amazing person, I am so grateful I have the chance to talk about her and our fundraising journey.
“I genuinely think it has given me something positive to focus on when I may otherwise have fallen apart.”
Lil’s mum Kay, from Timperley, was first diagnosed with breast cancer and melanoma in 2014 and was treated at the specialist cancer hospital for four years until she died in 2018.
Lil said: “We started fundraising before we lost mum as we saw what an amazing job all the staff at The Christie were doing.
“Mum not only received wonderful care, but she was given the chance to get to know her young grandchildren better and to make lasting memories with them.
“We wanted to give something back to the people helping mum and it was also a way to help us feel like we could do something to support her during her illness.”
Lil's eldest child Charlie, kicked off the fundraising by wearing shorts all winter, raising more than £700.
Then, dad David, brother Tom, and friends joined Lil to enter The Christie Tower Run in February 2018, climbing 798 steps to the top of Manchester Beetham Tower.
Lil’s mum, Kay was waiting for them at the top so they could all celebrate together.
Two months later, the family received devastating news that her mum’s cancer had spread.
Lil said: “We had 10 more days with mum where every single member of staff went out of their way to care for her and for us as well.
“Mum would talk about my children and the staff always listened and remembered their names so she could talk with them.
“Mum died on April 11, aged 66.
“I don't know if the staff will ever fully realise what they did for us all during that time.
“They allowed us to be together as a family and give mum the peaceful and dignified death that she deserved.”
Lil’s husband Gareth immediately pledged to run the Manchester Marathon and the family joined in.
“We planned it for the following April to be a fitting way to mark the first anniversary of her passing,” said Lil.
The family’s fundraising journey continued, completing the Snowdon at Night event and Night of Neon walk.
In 2022, when Lil turned 40 and her dad, David reached 70, they threw a party and asked people to donate to The Christie instead of gifts.
Lil has also organised cake sales and made Christmas cakes every year, using a family recipe handed down from her grandma Elsie.
Lil said: Before mum died, she would make cakes each year with my daughter Poppy.
“In 2019 I used the recipe.
“For the past five years my three children, Charlie, 15, Oscar, 12, and Poppy, 10, have helped me make cakes and I give them to friends and family who then donate to The Christie.
“When my mum would have turned 70 in 2021, I asked my mother-in-law Ann to bake lots of cakes so I could do a cake sale on mum's birthday. I sold them at work and added more to the fundraising pot.”
Lil now hopes to reach her £15,000 target so that her mum Kay’s name can be included on the Tree of Hope in The Christie garden.
Lil said: “It’s really important for me to have mum’s name somewhere for people to see.
“The Lakes 10 Challenge popped up on my social media over Christmas, which is a time I find really difficult without my mum, so it felt good to organise something positive when I was feeling sad.
“This will be my biggest challenge to date.
“It will push me physically and emotionally but I know that I can do it. “There's also nothing better than crossing the finish line knowing you've achieved something and get to help others in the process.”
Her children want to get involved and will be doing a sponsored stair climb the week before.
The Lakes 10 Peak Challenge takes place from September 20-22.
Lil, who is already training, said: “I've got the treadmill on an incline in the gym and I swim.
“I will be going on lots of family bike rides and walks with our dog, Max.
“I am really looking forward to this challenge and I love raising money for The Christie.
“It’s our way of saying thank you for giving us the extra years with mum and a way of keeping her legacy alive.
“My mum was such a special lady and meant so much to so many people who always show how much they love her with their willingness to take part and donate.
“My dad, brother and I are eternally grateful to all those friends and family members who have helped us over the years.”
To donate visit justgiving.com/page/lil-norbury-10peak-challenge The Christie Charity sporting events manager Lindsey Farthing, said: “Lil is an inspirational woman.
“We are so grateful for her amazing fundraising which will make such a difference to so many lives.
“We are all looking forward to being involved with the Lakes 10 Peak Challenge and supporting Lil plus all our other fantastic fundraisers wo are signing up for it.”
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