Cancer victim’s friends and family to raise funds (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Cancer victim’s friends and family to raise funds

1:00pm Thursday 25th October 2012 in News By Adrianne Maslen

FRIENDS and family of community-spirited Christine Simpson are holding a two-day fundraising event to remember her and raise money for a cancer hospice.

Christine, better known as Chris, was diagnosed with cancer in December last year and died aged 64 on September 18 this year.

She ran The Gables, self-catering holiday apartments in Church Street, Lyme Regis and was a member of the Hotel and Restaurant Association.

Chris was also an active member of Lyme Regis Regatta and Carnival Committee and helped out at various community fundraising events.

She was just coming to terms with the sudden death of her husband Alan in August 2011 when a routine blood test revealed she had renal cell carcinoma.

By August this year the cancer had become more aggressive and had spread to her backbone and after a course of radiotherapy she was transferred to the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust in Dorch-ester.

She took a turn for the worse and passed away after a 12-day battle.

Chris’s loved ones want to show their gratitude for the fantastic care she received at the hospice.

Her son-in-law Craig Lancaster, who now runs The Gables with his wife, Chris’s daughter Samantha, said: “Chris gave a lot back to the community and the care she received at the Weldmar Trust was exceptional.”

Those involved in organising events with Craig and Samantha are Sue Howse from Albany Guest House, Jenny Davies from Dinosaurland, Brenda Payne from Rumours Restaurant, and Dave Edwards from the carnival committee.

They call their group Chris for Care and have set up a website chrisfor care.co.uk Fundraising events will start on Tuesday, October 30 with a charity auction at the Pilot Boat, when the auctioneer will be town crier and carnival committee secretary Alan Vian.

Traders in and around Lyme Regis have donated an item or a service. Doors open at 7pm and the auction starts at 7.30pm.

On Wednesday, October 31, Rumours Restaurant in Monmouth Street will be serving morning coffee and cake and light lunches.

This will be followed by a balloon release from the Marine Parade Shelters at 2pm.

The public are invited to remember their own loved ones lost to cancer by attaching a label to balloons with a message or memory.

Labels are available to buy from Dinosaurland, Penny Blacks, Rumours, Lyme Regis Town Council offices, Finishing Touch hairdressers, and Ruby Rockcake.