FRIENDS and family of a woman, who died from cervical cancer want to thank the community for uniting to give her one last holiday with her family.
Helen Biddle contacted the Standard last Christmas in a desperate bid to grant her lifelong friend Tracy Reynold’s her last wish for a break with her three children.
She managed to raise £2,000 and with the Standard’s help Tracy was given a five-bedroom cottage near Newquay to stay in in February with her two daughters, son and grandchildren before her terminal cancer finally saw her pass last month.
“I really want to thank everyone who helped get Tracy that holiday,” said Helen.
“The community really rallied round to help her. I just couldn’t believe the response we had.”
Helen offered a special thanks to Michael, a security guard who read the story and raised more than £100 for the cause, and to Primrose Hospice who she said were a huge help to Tracy and her family.
“Tracy was such a fun and bubbly person.
“She was the kind of person who had nothing but would give you everything,” said Helen.
Sparkles salon in Redditch also made sure she looked glamorous for her trip and did her nails free of charge.
Helen and Tracy’s children, Jenna, Tori and Taylor, want to pay tribute to her but also want to highlight the importance of getting cervical screening.
Helen added: “Tracy just ignored the letters and never went for her smears. By the time she started to show symptoms it was too late and the cancer had spread. She was given six months to live last Christmas but she held on for nine.
“We bought thank you cards for everyone but she just got too ill to fill them out.”
