THE brave efforts of a terminally-ill cancer patient have boosted the Raise the Roof appeal by £1,500.

Sheenagh Scott, 44, from Darwen, has reached the end of the three months that doctors predicted she had left to live.

But she would not let that prognosis or her worsening illness stop her from hosting a fundraising day at the Entwistle Pub in Darwen.

Sheenagh was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago and with the help of the hospice managed to defeat the disease.

But six months ago she developed a secondary lung cancer, which could not be treated.

Sheenagh’s sister Rhona Eccles, 44, said she and her family decided to sell all the stock left over from Sheena's Accrington Market stall, including jewellery, handbags and scarves, and hold a raffle, tombola and auction.

She said: “Sheenagh did very well, she was a bit jittery and a bit nervous but we managed to raise £1,500, which was great.

“Our family is quite well known in Darwen, everybody in Darwen seems to know everybody, and there were a couple of hundred people there during the day.

“Sheenagh doesn’t like people making a fuss over her so we kind of sneaked her in. We’re all very proud of her.”

The event lasted nearly six hours, with 43 prizes up for grabs.

Rhona said: “We held an unexpected auction, a close friend of ours donated a watch and my mum donated a watch as well. We sold them as a ladies and gents set and got £300 for them.

“We would particularly like to thank the people of Darwen who have been very supportive, Tracey and Craig the landlady and landlord of the Entwistle and all the businesses that donated prizes.”

The Lancashire Telegraph Raise the Roof campaign aims to raise £125,000 to build a new roof over the inpatients unit at East Lancashire Hospice.

Sheenagh’s condition has deteriorated since the event and she moved into the hospice on Thursday.

Rhona said: “The hospice means a lot to us. It is a charity that depends on fundraising events and what they are doing now for Sheenagh is fantastic.

“They do fabulous work and hopefully this will help them carry it on.”

How to donate

  • By text - Send ROOF to 70700. Texts cost £5 plus network charge. East Lancashire Hospice receives at least £4.45. Obtain bill payers permission. Customer care 08448479800.

    Charity No 1075653.

  • Online - At eastlancshospice.org.uk/roof-appeal. Remember to add the word ‘roof’ in the comments section so it is clear the donation is for this appeal.
  • At a bank - Make a payment at any Yorkshire Bank, Account No 22741541, Sort Code 05-02-52. Locally there are branches in Accrington, Barnoldswick, Blackburn, Burnley, Chorley, Clitheroe, Colne, Nelson and Todmorden.
  • By post - Send a cheque to Roof Appeal, East Lancashire Hospice, Park Lee Road, Blackburn, BB2 3NY.
  • By phone - Pay by debit or credit card by ringing 01254 733410.

If surplus funds are raised they will be used for the general purposes of the charity.

Click on the link below for more information on the Raise The Roof campaign.