Fundraising to say thanks for the financial help

A bereaved woman from York will mark the birthday of her deceased partner by publicly thanking the cancer charity that helped her after his death.

Rebecca Boldry did not know how to deal with the financial consequences of Trevor Green’s death, a mere two weeks after he was diagnosed with stomach cancer.

She thought Macmillan Cancer Support was only for helping patients and families before death.

But after a chance meeting with Sally Millington, the charity’s local fundraising manager, she arranged an appointment with Laura, one of the charity’s financial guidance team, through the cancer care centre at York Hospital|.

Rebecca said, 'I didn’t know that Macmillan could help me. I thought they were only for people who had cancer. Laura explained things logically and clearly, and guided me through all the paperwork. As nice as family and friends are, any big financial decisions in my life had been with Trevor, and I didn’t want to talk about it with people I know.

'I needed someone independent, someone who wouldn’t judge me, but would help me. That was Laura. There were times when I would be so upset and crying on the phone, but the Macmillan team were always so patient and calmed me down and helped me through.'

Mr Green, who worked for many years for City of York Council| after being a chef, would have been 63 on March 15.

On that day, Rebecca, of Stockton-on- the-Forest, will host a Beer and Beef night at the Monk Bar Hotel, York, with food demonstrations, local entertainment and a food-based raffle.

Rebecca said, 'Trevor loved entertaining, so this is my way of remembering him and giving something back to Macmillan, who really did make such a difference. It’s not only the people with a cancer diagnosis who need support. Families go through the cancer too and Macmillan really has been a great help to me.'