Poignant fund-raiser by gutsy Lisa

SISTERS Lisa Veal (centre) Lesley Gresty (left) and Julie Livesey

THREE sisters whose world has been torn apart by illness have vowed to help bring world-class cancer treatment to Oldham.

The trio have thrown themselves into raising money for the Christie Hospital’s £17 million radiotherapy centre, which is due to open in Oldham next spring.

The youngest sister, Lisa Veal, is battling a second bout of cancer, unrelated to the cervical cancer she beat three years ago.

And she has chosen her 34th birthday — on Sunday — to have her long locks shaved off to raise money for the Christie at Oldham appeal.

The gutsy mother-of-two was diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer just two weeks ago, and is due to start chemotherapy treatment at the Christie next Wednesday.

Ironically, she raised £100 for the Christie with a sponsored silence as a dinner lady at Radclyffe School, Chadderton, on Red Nose Day.

“I didn’t know I had lung cancer at the time,” said Lisa, who lives in Fields New Road, Chadderton. “It’s funny how things turn out.”

Lisa’s two daughters, Chloe (13) and Georgia (7), had already signed up for Cancer Research’s Race for Life in June with their aunt, Julie Livesey, because of their mother’s earlier experience with cancer.

But this latest blow to the family will make their run even more poignant.

The three women, Lisa, Julie (42) of Alpine Drive, Royton and Lesley Gresty (40), of Park View, Chadderton, and their brother, Anthony Veal (38), are a close-knit family.

Their bond was strengthened when they lost both their mother, who died when she was only 33, and their father, who died at the age of 49.

The siblings have promised to do whatever they can to help Lisa cope with her illness, and to raise as much money as possible for the hospital which will treat her.

“We are a very close family and this is very hard for all of us,” said Julie.

Sunday, when Lisa will lose her locks, is an open birthday party at the Crown pub, known locally as the Sump’ole, Walsh Street, Chadderton.

The three sisters and their brother have tracked down friends they have lost touch with and invited them to join in and sponsor Lisa and two of her friends, Lisa Jones and Mark Adamson, who are all having their heads shaved.

“I wanted to shave my head before I start having chemotherapy because I don’t want my children to see it falling out in clumps,” said Lisa.

“I know it will be sad losing my hair on Sunday, but I just want to get it over with then I can enjoy my birthday.

“It will be overwhelming seeing everyone I haven’t seen for ages.”

There is currently no cure for the type of cancer Lisa has, but doctors hope chemotherapy will keep it at bay, despite it having spread to lymph glands at the bottom of her back.

Depending on how the disease reacts, she may go on to have radiotherapy, and hopefully go into remission.

Lisa went to see her doctor when a cough failed to clear up and she could feel a rattling in her side when she breathed.

Small-cell lung cancer is rare in a person as young as Lisa, and impossible to cure, although it can be treated.

Lesley, who has three children, said: “We can’t put into words how we all feel.

“We were together when the doctor told us Lisa had cancer and it was like there were all these words floating round our heads and we were like a waterproof sponge — it just wouldn’t go in — and I can’t tell you how much crying we have all done.”

Julie added: “It’s like living a nightmare, I feel like I am somewhere else looking down on what’s happening.”

Anyone who wants to make a donation for Lisa’s head shave can contact her sisters, Lesley, on 07732-526032 or Julie on 07788-411541.


TO get help or advice in setting up a fund-raising event, contact the appeals office on 0161-446 3988, visit www.christies.org or text OLDHAM CHRISTIE followed by your name and address to 07971-456824 to receive a fund-raising pack.

The pack will have details on how to make sure your money goes to the Christie At Oldham Appeal.

Cheques should be made payable to The Christie (Oldham Evening Chronicle). If sending cash, enclose a covering letter to say it is for the Christie At Oldham campaign.