Press Release - 22nd August 2003
Courage Of Busby Babe's Daughter
Another score for Denis Law - watched by John Doherty
(rear),
superintendent radiographer Julia Barker (left),
Dr Alan Stewart and John's daughter, Tracy Askew.Busby Babe John Doherty was luckier than many of
his Manchester United colleagues. He was in hospital having surgery
for a football
injury at the time of the
1958 Munich air disaster which killed most of his team mates.
But John's daughter, Tracy Askew, hasn't inherited her father's luck. What
she does have in common with him though is courage, a true fighting spirit
and a sense of humour.
Tracy, 39, from Timperley, has had breast cancer
and a broken marriage. Yet this irrepressible single mother, who
is bringing up sons James, 13, and Ben 10, has just gained a degree
from North Trafford College - and has also raised a total £19,000
for The Christie.
She's held two dinners, one this year and the first in 2002, to raise cash
for her charity 'Worth A Whistle' - so called because that's what her Christie
consultant Alan Stewart said about her reconstruction surgery after an operation
to remove a cancerous lump left one breast smaller than the other.
Accompanied by her dad, chairman of the MU ex-players association, and United
legend Denis Law, Tracy presented her latest, £13,000 cheque to Dr Stewart
for his breast cancer research fund.
She was diagnosed with cancer on Christmas Eve 1998 and had chemotherapy and
radiotherapy as well as surgery.
Says Tracy: "I can't help Christie's enough. They saved my life and gave
me back my confidence".
The money was raised from a dinner at Marcello's Restaurant, Hale, where the
guest list resembled a roll call of Manchester United greats. Among the 80
people there were Denis, Brian Robson, Pat Crerand, David Sadler and Alan Wardle.
The ex-players association donated a very generous £5,000 and the rest of the
money was from ticket sales and an auction featuring some magnificent prizes.
They included a box, provided by Manchester City President Tudor Thomas, at
City's new stadium for the forthcoming United-City derby game. The box fetched
over £1,000, as did a weekend at the Four Seasons Hotel, Dublin. The weekend
break, with flights, was donated by Irish businessman Bill Kilmurray.
"There were lots of other splendid prizes and
we had magnificent support from everyone involved. My heartfelt
thanks to them all," adds Tracy.
The success of the event has meant a double celebration, for her newly acquired
degree qualifies her to teach basic skills to further and higher education
students with disabilities and learning difficulties at North Trafford College.
Now she aims to take a further degree, again focusing on basic skills, in conjunction
with the College and Bolton Institute.
Says Christie regional appeals officer Rachel Roberts: "Last year Tracy
raised £6,000 and we thought that was a terrific sum from one event. Yet this
year she and her supporters have more than doubled that figure despite her
busy working and home life. We all wish her continuing success. She certainly
deserves it"
For more information please contact:
or
The Christie in Manchester is one of the leading cancer centres in Europe - registering around 12,500 new patients and treating about 40,000 patients every year.
You can now subscribe to Christie's appeal news releases by adding our RSS address to your news aggregator.